This was a good story but I would have liked it to be longer. It had enough to be a full fantasy novel but it wasn’t. Overall it was an enjoyable read but I missed things and I think that made it less fun than it would have been if it had been longer and the world more developed. 3.5 stars

I went into this not really knowing if I was going to like it. I always have a hard time reading or listening to novellas, because I usually end up wanting more. It is safe to say I want more after reading this, because it was just that good! "When Among Crows", might be one of my favorite read this year! The characters, the setting, the folklore are done to so well, and in a way that fits perfectly as a novella. The narration was amazing, I loved having the three narrators for each of the characters!
I'm definitely going to be recommending this one to be purchased at my library, so I can recommend it to patrons!!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

4.5/5

It had been too long since I read a Veronica Roth book. When Among Crows is an urban fantasy intermingled with Slavic folklore. For a book that has less than two-hundred pages, there was so much detail packed into it in such a beautiful way. I wish that it had been twice as long so I could have stayed in the world a little longer. I love the overlapping of the fantasy elements with the urban backdrop of modern day Chicago. The characters were interesting and I would love to read more about them! I don’t want to say too much because I think the best way to experience this book is to go in blind, but I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook of When Among Crows. Each of the three main characters takes turn narrating the story and I think the audiobook narrators (yes! each character had their own narrator!) did a really fantastic job giving the characters unique voices that felt very organically matched to their personalities. I am not usually a big fan of multiple narrators, but this one was very enjoyable!
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio Team for allowing me to review this book as part of the Macmillan Audio Influencer Program!

Thanks to Macmillian Audio for gifted access to this audiobook. All opinions below are my own.

This one drops you into a unique fantasy world where there are beings that feed upon human emotions. It's mythical and the magic is unique. There are feuds and a quest. 

But the drop in was too abrupt for me as was the ending. I needed more world building. I needed to care about the characters more. I love Veronica Roth but this one was a bit of a miss for me.

It reminded me of T Kingfisher stories, check it out if you like stories like that.

When Among Crows

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillian.audio for the ARC and ALC of this book.

This book was unfortunately a miss for me. I listened to the audio but was immediately lost so I had to follow along in the book. I felt as though there was so much not explained in the beginning. Like maybe I needed more backstory.
I’m sure this will be a hit for others, it just wasn’t for me.
The reason I grabbed this book was because of the author. I was a huge fan of Divergent. However, this is not similar.

This novella packed a brass knuckle punch. For being less than 200 pages, I’m mind blown. I finished this with the same satisfaction of a 500+/15 hr + read. The detail and action crammed into this short story is insane. The lore this story delivered is what makes my fantasy heart beat. I loved it. Baba Jaga (Yaga) friends. The audiobook gives us 3 narrators - thank you! They ensured the entertainment factor was dialed in - accents, sound effects, voices. I wholeheartedly enjoyed this read. I think I’ll get more and more from the story with every reread.

Thank you NetGalley, Veronica Roth, and Macmillan audio for this audiobook ARC.

I unfortunately had a difficult time getting into the story and connecting to the characters. The writing was wonderful, as expected from Veronica Roth. But the story wasn't for me overall.

3.5 ⭐️

I low-key didn't have a clue what was happening until like chapter 13 out of 15, but I liked this a lot regardless of that.

**I would recommend you avoid reading the synopsis at all! It has major spoilers for the reveals that come later in the book. I'm not sure why they made that choice, but I'm glad I didn't read it before hand.**

I'm not sure if my confusion was because this was v hard to not get lost reading via audio format or if it's equality as hard to keep up with in the physical book but I will not be re-reading it to test the theory.

That aside, it was still fun! Even without fully undertanding who was who and what was what for most of the book, I was totally invested and really liked the characters and how it ended.

This urban fantasy, set mainly in Chicago, follows Dymitr in his quest to meet with Baba Jaga. First he harvests an enchanted flower. Then he strikes a bargain with Ala, a cursed zmora: the enchanted flower needed to break her curse in exchange for her aid tracking down Baba Jaga. Along the way, Nikodem, a strzygi, joins them. The clock is ticking on their quest, though; once it dies, the flower loses the power to break Ala’s curse.

It took me a little bit to get my bearings with what was going on, but I was quickly engrossed in the story. It’s a short novella (4 hours 37 minutes on audio), and by the time Nikodem enters the fray in the storyline, I was fully hooked.

I don’t want to reveal too much here but be aware that there are some violent—and somewhat gory—moments along the way as well as a touch of romance.

The three narrators, Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell, made the audiobook a more immersive experience. There are Polish, Slavic, and American accents utilized in the story, so if you have difficulty understanding accented speech without a visual component, the print version may be the way to go. Personally, the accents and vocal choices enhanced the experience for me. I got swept up in the audiobook and did not want to pause it or put it down.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

When Among Crows is a dark urban fantasy novella that takes place in modern day Chicago. While the Slavic folklore and tight plot keep the short story interesting overall, the dull characters, lack of atmosphere, and confusing narration choice soured me on the audiobook experience and negatively impacted my enjoyment of the story.

I was really excited to listen to the ARC provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. The premise sounded fantastic - old-world-meets-new-world fairytale in a modern urban setting - with pain, sacrifice and redemption the key themes. The title evokes all of those vibes, and the cover is beautiful. Plus, a quest to find Baba Jaga? Sign me up.

The opening scene sucked me in right away. The imagery and characters presented felt like the book I was expecting. Unfortunately, the opening scene was probably the strongest scene in the entire novella. There were a few others that stood out to me and would briefly reengage me with the story (for example, the monster fight club with the siren song), however I felt disconnected from both the setting and the characters most of the time even though it was a short story.

Roth does a very good job of focusing the Slavic folklore on the plot, and the plot is was drives this story. Every detail ties back to the quest to find Baba Jaga and secure a cure for Ala's curse. However, because this is a novella, that meant that the characters weren't given room to really shine on their own and the setting suffered. Dymitr was the most interesting of the main characters as the quest was his. If Dymitr had been the only main character and everyone else was just a vehicle to get Dymitr to the resolution, I think that would have justified this being a novella. Instead, Roth introduces Ala the zmora as an equal main character, and then about halfway through adds yet another critical character in Niko the strzyga. All of the characters suffered and felt incomplete because the shorter format divided between the 3 of them could not support their full development. Each character was given too much time for a plot driven novella, yet not enough to make me care about them.

Another fatality of too many characters and not enough pages was the atmosphere of the setting. I wanted to be transported and enchanted by this story. I wanted a modern fantasy Chicago. Instead, I got actual travel from point A to point B to point C all around the city without real references to what it feels like to be in Chicago. Roth's visuals were clear and crisp, but there was no feeling behind them. Other than the opening scene which wove magic around the city's landscape, everything felt sterile and generic.

Finally, I think my experience was impacted by the audiobook format. I was really looking forward to listening to this story instead of reading it. Now, I think I want to go back and read it and see if I have an improved opinion of the novella overall. I have listened to many audiobooks where having multiple narrators have enhanced the experience. The performances for this book felt generic, and maybe that's why the atmosphere also felt generic. I also struggled to tell the difference between the two male voices and there were times when this confused me as to who's point of view I was supposed to be experiencing.

Overall, my review for the audiobook of When Among Crows is kind of a mixed bag. I would not recommend the audiobook. However I think that if you like modern fairytales you should give this one a try since it is a novella. The plot, which is the star of the show, is really interesting. I plan on going back and reading the physical copy when it is released and giving it one more shot.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook digital review copy of When Among Crows by Veronica Roth in exchange for my honest opinion.

So much world built in so little time! "When Among the Crows" is a fast-paced contemporary fantasy that carefully entwines old world lore with a twist on the modern-day seedy underbelly of society. The detail in which Roth paints the Slavic history and lore is beautifully done - no detail was spared. The further you get, the more engrossed you become with the characters. There was a quick hint of romantic interest between characters that I would have liked to see more fully developed. However, it was a refreshing change of pace to not have a story dependent on the foundation of sex and love. I am typically quick to figure out where a story is headed, but the twist at the end of this story truly got me. My heart was aching for our Dymitr and his troubled soul.

Overall, I would love to see a follow-up installment that would show us where Dymitr, Ala, and Nico go from here.

4.5 stars

I read this as an audio arc.

This book is best going into not having read the synopsis. I like this mix of classic Slavic folklore mixed with modern Chicago a lot. It worked together and balanced out really well.

A little more time to live with the characters would have been appreciated, but overall this novella had beautiful line work and the descriptions and prose were very vivid.

Story: 3/5
Narration: 5/5
Overall ALC Rating: 4/5

I’ve read many of Roth’s books. I haven’t really liked many of them, though. Divergent and Carve the Mark blew me away, but despite Roth’s great prose, I just don’t connect with the endings of the stories. When Among Crows gives off combo vibes from The Monsters of Verity and Carve the Mark, with a bit of Slavic mythology and wittiness, but I found myself wanting when the story was over. Roth’s style frames stories in wonderful ways, but the characters and plot devices seem to repeat themselves or borrow from other things since Divergent and Carve the Mark—both series I loved at the start but completely hated by the end. When Among Crows started fabulously, with a great interaction and setting, a total attention-gripping and what-the-heck factor, and curiosity-piquing opening. If the whole novella had the tone and setting of the opening, I would have been awestruck and completely enamored.

There’s no question that Roth can compose a descriptive, atmospheric sentence and place the reader in magical worlds. The problem for me with this story lies in the inability to keep me in those worlds. I’m picky about the fantasies I read with modern settings. Because they’re set in our world, the fantastic element feels like it’s lost in the setting. If I get a modern setting in this world, I want the rest of it to be so amazing that I forget what world I’m in. When Among Crows does not do that. Every place Dymitr and Ala visit reminds me where I’m reading about, and it’s jarring. From the underground fighting rings to the penthouse high rises, this story may have been well suited as a mafia romance instead.

If a setting or a plot don’t transfix me, usually great characters will save a books for me when all else fails. While Dymitr intrigued me at the start, by the time I realized what his mission was, he did not seem to grow on me. Add to that Ala’s complete 180 at the end of the novel with no arc of transformation to make sense of the change, and I can’t connect. The villains in the story seem to be standard in a lot of the fantasies I’m reading right now—so much so that I feel it’s not coincidence. I like my villains a bit more organic and less pushy trope.

On a brighter note, the narration for When Among Crows proved stellar, and the narrators were so wonderful, I really had a great time listening to them tell me the story despite my general dissatisfaction with the narrative itself. I do highly recommend giving this one a listen.

My profuse thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

#MacAudio2024 #veronicaroth #whenamongcrows #lgbt #macmillanaudio #tor #urbanfantasy #slavicfolklore

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted ALC of 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨!

This novella dives headfirst into an imaginative world based in Slavic folklore and Chicago’s rich cultural heritage.

Dymitr, a monster hunter who has sold his soul, must find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, he strikes a deal with a fear-eating zmora named Ala who is cursed and will die if she cannot find a cure. These unlikely companions must fight against time in order to fulfill their quest in Chicago’s underworld.

Overall, I enjoyed listening to 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨. Hooray for full cast narration!! The narrators brought the characters to life with great pacing and distinctive voices. I typically listen at a higher speed and was able to follow along easily. I loved the exploration of themes around redemption, sacrifice, and regret. Given its short length, there was a bit of a “drinking from a firehose” feeling as the lore and world were introduced. With that said, it felt fully immersive with rich descriptions.

As a former Chicago resident, I love how Roth incorporates the city into her stories by leaning into its history and unique quirks.

I recommend this audiobook for readers looking for a quick, atmospheric modern fairytale and fans of Olivie Blake’s 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
✨ Slavic folklore
✨ Urban fantasy
✨ Rich imagery
✨ Unlikely allies
✨ Epic quest
✨ Novella (4.5hrs audio)

Dymitr must join forces with a member of his enemy, Ala, in order to seek out the great witch Baba Jaga. Ala agrees to join the search in hope of breaking her family's curse.

When Among Crows is an urban fantasy set in Chicago. While the MCs and storyline are unique, there is heavy Slavic folklore influence. This is novella so everything is quite fast paced. There’s no real introduction or backstory before the characters are just thrown into the fray. Readers are given a little bit of background along the way but much is left up to speculation.

As the story is told from three points of view, there are three separate narrators. I think I would have benefited in reading this as a physical book as opposed to listening to the audio. There seemed to be some struggle in keeping the characters and their voices separate. I find this to be a common issue where all or several of the characters have similar accents. It made it very difficult to differentiate which of the characters was speaking.

This is actually the first book that I have read by Veronica Roth so I don’t know how it compares to her other work. While this book wasn’t for me, I do plan on checking out some of her backlist.

I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.I’m

3 ⭐️

The writing in ‘When Among Crows’ was great, but the story just wasn’t for me. I would still recommend this book though!
I liked that there were multiple narrators, but the accents were a little much personally.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for allowing me to read this book

For fans of:
- Masters of Death
- An Education in Malice

In Chicago's underworld, a peculiar human, a cursed zmora, and a not-vampire team up as an unlikely crew after a harrowing series of events. I can't say much without giving away spoilers, but in their quest to find an ancient witch, they find that they may be much more similar than they thought and there may be more secrets between them than they may have realized.

This book includes:
- multiple POVs
- beautiful prose
- a hidden world of supernatural creatures in a modern Chicago
- generational curses both psychological and literal
- regret, guilt, penance
- LGBT protagonists
- emotional rebirth

I was drawn to this audiobook because of the stunning cover art and eye-catching title. Seriously so gorgeous. The contents of the story surpassed any expectation I could have had. The narrative style is not the typical style that is popular in more modern fantasy bestsellers, and this allows the prose to shine. Each of the three main characters are dynamic despite the story being so short, and each of them had me feeling attached and craving more of their story by the time I reached the end. My heartstrings were tugged at for sure. I hope we receive more of this world in the future from Veronica Roth.

Speaking of Veronica Roth, I was shocked when I realized that this book has the same author as Divergent. I loved Divergent as a young teen and followed the series closely, but this is such a departure from the sci-fi dystopian that I did not make the connection that it was the same author until I was logging the book into my Goodreads. Superb job well done! I look forward to reading more of her more mature work.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Veronica Roth for the opportunity to review this book. This review is also available on my GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

I don't know if it was me or what, but this book did not do it for me. I couldn't pay attention, or keep attention. I think this one may be done better as a physical book for me personally.
I feel like we didn't really get to know the characters well and the plot didn't start off strong enough to pull me in.
The audiobook did have 3 narrators which I loved and they all had wonderful voices, though some of the attempted accents brought me out of the story a little.

Huge shoutout to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook arc!!

This short novella had a lot of great ideas and the Slavic folklore was new to me but extremely interesting! We got a narrator for each main character too, which I always love!!

This is my first time reading anything from Roth (yes, that means I never read Divergent 🫥), and I really enjoyed her writing style, especially when it came to the various creatures in this book. I hate to say this about a novella, as it’s the most common complaint with them, but gosh I wish this was a full novel.

The core of the story and the characters were so strong, but suffered from a very quickly paced book. I think there was so much depth left untouched in this, from the characters and their relationships and motivations, to the world itself and all the influences that I wanted to learn more about.

So while I did find myself wanting this to be longer, I still did enjoy what I read! And I’d like to read more from Roth in the future!

When Among Crows
By: Veronica Roth
I was able to read this as an arc through NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I really enjoyed this novella, the writing was excellent and I really loved the characters. This is an urban fantasy I would say with Slavic characters and history.
This novella has to do with the characters going on a journey to save a person that is cursed. I would definitely recommend this book, I wish it was a novel and not a novella. I really wanted more, but overall it was a really good one. I would rate this novella a 4.5 only because I wished it was longer.