I received this as an ALC on NetGalley from MacMillan Audio.

I really enjoyed listening to When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. It is a well written, lush and atmospheric journey. I highly recommend this novella for readers who enjoy stories based in folklore, but beware things are not always what they seem. It felt like reading a Neil Gaiman story, and that’s high praise coming from me. I enjoyed each of the characters and learning about them, my only complaint is that I wish it were longer!

The narrators of this audio book were wonderful. They added to the overall experience of the book and allow the reader to get lost in the story. I don’t think they could have chosen any better.

Magic, Mayhem, and Finding your place.

Pub Date: 5/13/24

I really liked this book, I wasn’t so sure when I saw how short it was but I found that the length of the audiobook was perfect!

This a great story that draws from Slavic folklore to create lovable characters and a story you can get lost in, with concepts I haven’t really seen before, I liked the world building, and the magic. The characters were original and easy to relate to, we all have dealt with pain in one way or another, and we all cope with it in different ways.

This book shows that atonement is possible if you come forward with a good heart, and good intentions, and that overcoming fear may be the only thing holding you back.

I would recommend this book to a friend, it’s a nice short and entertaining read, and I liked the surprise romance :) 5/5⭐️

Thank you to the Author Veronica Roth. The Narrators, Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell. And big thank you to Macmillan Audio for my free audiobook copy of “When Among Crows”.

I received this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 ⭐

When Among Crows was a fast paced novella with religious (Christian) coded themes based around Slavic folklore. This story primarily follows Dymitr and Ala - Dymitr is on the hunt for Baba Jaga with a request only she can grant. He also came into possession of a rare flower that only humans can touch that can cure any curse. Ala just so happens to be one of those with a curse to break. The two need each other without realizing the scope. They go on a wild ride on their hunt for Baba Jaga.

This is an urban fantasy version of Chicago blended with myths and creatures. My main gripe is I wish it was longer! I loved how much Slavic folklore was included as well as the themes of responsibility and repentance in ones actions.

I didn't realize going into a novella when I was approved for this, but the author used every word and inch of space to give a compelling story. The audiobook was a great performance - I loved the multiple narrators and the accents made for a pleasant and quick read.

✨ Well developed characters
✨ Short, but FUN ride
✨ Adventurous quest
✨ Unlikely crew
✨ Family burdens and regrets
✨ Queer romance inclusion

When Among Crows releases 05/14/2024

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & TOR Books for an ALC of When Among Crows by Veronica Roth.

This was an interesting story but I do think I would have enjoyed if it was a bit longer. More background, more character and story development. Novella’s are like that sometimes though. 😆

In the town of Chicago there are two worlds intertwined as one. One filled with the folklore of monsters and the other a world filled with humans who are feasted upon.
Dymitr is on a mission to find the feared Baba Jaga, but he needs help. He soon meets Ala, who is cursed and will die if she can not find a cure. Dymitr strikes a deal with Ala, if she helps him find Baba Jaga he will give her the highly sought after magical flower that may break her of her family’s curse.
But there is a catch they only have one day before the flower dies….and Ala with it.
Overall rating 2 /5
I really wanted to like this book but ultimately just felt so lost in all the Polish folklore. I would have loved some more in-depth explanation or world building to explain how these characters existed. I wanted to see more context to the whole story. It just felt so rushed. This could be a great book given more development and backstory. It was also difficult to get over the accents given by the narrators. It truly made me disconnect from the story even more.

*Thank you to Veronica Roth, Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the audio copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

This short book packed quite a punch. These characters instantly jumped off the page and the descriptions were so well done that I was completely immersed in this world. I loved the current POV with some flashbacks at the best time that always left me with a tiny bit of doubt and curiosity about what was truly going on. It was emotional and powerful and I highly recommend it.

Note: the audiobook is FANTASTIC!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this audio!

This was such an interesting read. I actually really enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The story was great and the narrator did awesome!

I had really high hopes for this book after the epic setting of divergent and hearing that the baba yaga was involved in this story. I ultimately didn't dislike it, but wasn't wowed either. I appreciated that this was a novella I could take in over an afternoon, but probably won't rank it highly on my list of recommendations for friends.

I am grateful for NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio arc which did improve my experience with the book. I do think the audio format improved my experience.

I liked this, but in a subdued way. If asked, I likely would have guessed that this was written by Alix E. Harrow with some influence from Polish folklore.

Vibes:
It would be spoilers to give away what kind of story this is, but I think that there's a lot of heart to the primary storyline. Melancholy and quiet and aching and regret and yearning, but big emotions from people who feel deeply.

Characters:
Unfortunately this story is very short and I don't think this writing style lends itself to giving me the sort of fully fleshed out and easily-imagined characters that I'd hope for. I do like that we get multiple POVs and that the audiobook has a different narrator for all 3, though! And the FMC was probably the least guarded and therefore most fleshed out for me.

The Ending:
I wasn't expecting a book like this to have a twist at the end, but I quite liked it. It felt good and right. I just wish there was a little bit more time to sit with their characters and their emotions and to feel a greater weight for what transpired.

Overall:
As a whole it's a nice, little, bite-sized piece of Polish folklore and I thought the various creatures (strzyga, zmory, leshy, and more) were really well handled and imagined. I'd like to see future stories in this world, perhaps a full length novel following different characters.

Audiobook Notes:
There are 3 different narrators to do each of the 3 POVs. All of them were competent, though one of the male voices was a little more generic and monotone than the other two voice actors, but it wasn't distracting or detracting.

Admittedly, I had to listen to the first few chapters twice to really get what was happening, but once I got it I was so engrossed! This is a totally new take on fantasy for me with the Polish background and I did not expect any of the twists.

I requested this book solely for the author and maybe a little bit for the beautiful cover. My absolute obsession I had with divergent made this request a no brainer. I went into this audio completely blind and I do suggest maybe reading the blurb first as I was a bit lost to start with but I ended up absolutely loving the narration and Dymitirs character. This was such a fun quick novella read!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for providing me an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Release date: May 14th

First off, I really enjoyed the audiobook format. The different narrators did a great job! This was a quick one that had me interested but also pretty confused. I think because I was listening to it and couldn't see the names I struggled keeping people straight. I liked that it was fast but it almost felt too fast. The romance felt unnecessary and too thrown in there. It was super random and there was no development to it. But overall, I enjoyed this audiobook and it kept me engaged. Just maybe wish it could have had more depth to it.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I tried to get into the audiobook several times and just could not get into it. When Among Crows quickly throws you into its fantasy world with very little to no explanation and feels like too much happening too fast, causing me to lose interest. I question if I would have enjoyed this more if it were a full length book as opposed to a novella. I think it would really benefit from greater character development and more detailed world-building.

Thank you to Veronica Roth, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I shouldn't have read this so soon after my failed The Bear and the Nightingale reread. Two books in a row with interesting Eastern European rep are two too many. I will say this was probably made worse on audio, as the attempted accents were atrocious.

The juxtaposition between creatures and religion is prevalent, and could've been interesting. However, this is done so much better in other books that it isn't really anything to write home about.

🎧 NetGalley

3 ⭐ for When among Crows by Veronica Roth.
I feel like this story could of been a full novel instead of a novella, it needed to give more backstory and explanation to fully understand the characters and their journeys. There was a lot of back and fourth with this audio book and maybe actually reading the story would have made it more clear to understand all the mythology and creatures in the world. Some of the accents given by the narrators weren't great and a little difficult to understand, I also would of preferred if the voices kept with each character instead of it just switch narrators each chapter.
Overall it wasn't a bad story but not one I would be keen to read again or recommend.

"When Among Crows" is a captivating tale of redemption, showcasing a man's journey to right the wrongs he and his family committed. The story delves deep into Polish folklore, a realm I found fascinating as my own roots trace back to Poland through my grandparents. Exploring this folklore while diving into the narrative added an extra layer of intrigue and connection for me.

The novel's length felt just right, leaving just enough mystery in the characters and world to leave you satisfied but still wanting more.

The book's imagery is vivid and immersive, painting scenes that lingered in my mind long after I turned the final page. The writing itself is masterful, weaving emotions and action seamlessly throughout the narrative.

In conclusion, "When Among Crows" left a lasting impression on me. It's a well-crafted, engaging read that I wholeheartedly loved

Languages are a significant part of the story, and audiobook narrator's accents are not the best, besides that, audiobook is fine.

The story is fast, but I think the novella format doesn't help. A lot of character decisions happen too fast because there's just no time to develop the story any more.

“You’ve chosen your own punishment. You think your victims will be satisfied by your suffering? You want to wander the earth in pain, but suffering isn’t atonement.”

This cover was way too gorgeous to pass, and the description just helped pique my curiosity. This was my first read from Veronica Roth, and I wasn’t disappointed—except maybe that it was not a full-length novel.

❤️ Interesting worldbuilding and lore
❤️ Likeable characters
❤️ Some unexpected plot twists
❤️ Satisfying ending
❤️ Stellar multicast narration
❌ Worldbuilding too heavy for a novella
❌ Slow start
❌ Underdeveloped queer romance

Plot:
A family curse passes onto Ala, and she knows it will eventually claim her life like it did for her mother. Together with Dymitr, a brave mortal with a mysterious purpose, and Niko, an old acquaintance with tremendous magical abilities, she embarks on a quest to find a cure. First, they need to find the legendary witch Baba Jaga while avoiding the “knights,” mortals who split their souls to become powerful monster hunters.

I had mixed feelings about the first 1/3 of this book. It started a little out of blue, mid action, and then slowed to leave room for dense breadcrumb worldbuilding. Don’t get me wrong: the worldbuilding and lore were both epic, but also too dense for the novella format, in my opinion. After this shaky intro, things started to pick up, intriguing details come to light, and new characters were introduced. At this point, I was completely hooked. The story was captivating and intriguing, with curses and bargains, Polish/Slavic folklore and interesting topics like religious guilt, redemption, pain, identity, and heritage, with a touch of chosen family. By the end, I was disappointed it was over and wished it had been a full-length novel.

Characters:
I liked Dymitr and Niko right from the start, and Ala eventually grew on me. All three of them are interesting, likeable characters, and their interactions and budding relationships were nicely done. The only thing that annoyed me was how drastic their character development was near the end. Once again, I blame the novella format.

Writing:
Atmospheric, sharp, and strong, with interesting wisdom and matter for reflection.

Audiobook:
I’ve heard comments about the accents being off, but I really couldn’t tell, and it sounded fine to me. This was the very first time I listened to a book where there are 3 different voice actors, and I loved it. I think they all did a great job.

Many thanks to MacMillan Audio and author Veronica Roth for this opportunity.

I had no idea where to set my expectations for this book, and initially picked it up with equal amounts of interest and skepticism. But I never would have guessed it would have blown me away the way it did.

Following an unlikely crew of three very different characters who carry three different family burdens, WHEN AMONG CROWS is a gorgeous and captivating urban fantasy tale about regret, repentance, and responsibility.

I was prepared for an action-packed folkloric urban fantasy. But I was not prepared for the deep commentary in this book about immigration, cultural ties, and Christian imperialism. And I was even less prepared for Roth to tackle all of these elements with such nuance and tact while creating a blossoming and tender achillean romance and found family amidst the cast of utterly lovable characters.

I almost want to say I wish it was longer, but not because it needed to be (arguably one of the best paced novellas I’ve ever read), but just because I fell so in love with these characters and this world and would read a whole series of this.

This is such a beautiful, intriguing novel. In “When Among Crows,” creatures from Slavic (and other) mythology roam a fantasy version of our world, hunted by an extra-human regime of hunters. We follow unlikely companions on a mission through the world’s secrets.