I enjoyed this story! I didn't get pulled in by the characters, but I enjoyed the world and the folklore.

This is a tiny novella story that is set in a magical contemporary world, specifically Chicago and it’s steeped in Slavic lore and magic. It’s about Chicago being divided by both humans and creatures that feed off of fear and provoke sorrow in people and we follow characters from The Holy Order which is an organization that hunts them down in order to kill them. It was pretty cool, I wish it was a full length novel because I have trouble getting into novella’s these days but nonetheless, a good one.

4.5 rounded to 5
This book was definitely fun. I really liked how they added fantasy aspects to read world Chicago, with monsters and magic. I really loved how the monsters fed of different negative emotions (fear, anger, anxiety, etc). I do wish it was a full novel, it would have been a lot more fun. The narration was great and really added a lot of depth to the story. I am always thankful for audiobooks in fantasy books to help with pronunciation lol. Definitely need to read more of Veronica Roth’s backlist.

I really enjoyed this lush dark tale filled with Slavic folklore! Going into it I did not realize this was a novella, but it's an exciting 36 hour journey these characters take to find Baba Jaga. The narrator was great and really brought this tale to life!

I've loved old Slavic folklore since falling in love with the Bear and the Nightingale and the entire Winternight Trilogy. So I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy novella from Veronica Roth set in Chicago, while featuring all manner of mythical creatures. The story features a hero’s quest & his burdens of grief as he meets these creatures along the way.

Dymitr is from a Polish family of hunters, called upon to sacrifice their souls to take down monsters. Ala is a fire-eating zmora living under a curse. Dymitr tempts her with a cure to gain her help on his quest and she can only say yes. Along the way the encounter other terrifying creatures, from stryga and leshy to banshees and rusalka, and they must outwit them to find the legendary Baba Jaga

I really enjoyed the characters in this story, and the story rotates through the perspectives of Dimytr and Ala as well as Niko who joins their quest - and may have a soft spot for Dimytr in spite of their differences. The atmospheric writing lent added danger and darkness to this unique story, which wraps up neatly and succinctly.

I haven't read anything of Veronica Roth's since Allegiant and I was pleasantly surprised by this novella. I liked the world she built and I actually would have loved to have spent a bit more time in it.

Excellent narration and a great story using folklore. Hooked from start to finish. Will definitely be recommending. Thank you to Netgalley and publisher.

I want to say I am truly sorry, but that would be a lie. I cannot in good conscience say I didn't like the book because I was too distracted to actually understand it. I was so elated that my culture and mother language got representation. At the same time, how can you butcher my language so badly? I ask this question not from a standpoint of superiority. I just wonder, how come there was not one person who could have guided the narrators with pronunciation? EVERY word could have been written phonetically. Only then would all that have had some meaning, because I didn't understand a word, and certainly, it didn't mean a thing to someone who doesn't speak Polish. As this is a review of an audiobook, this is where I finish, because one day, for sure, I will read the paper version and have a much better time seeing how Slavs and Poles specifically are appreciated (though I still do not understand how Polish Demetriusz (De-mehtr-ush—you see what I did here?) became Demitr).

WHEN AMONG CROWS is a short fantasy novel that packs a lot within only 176 pages. Roth’s signature storytelling abilities and her effortless writing style were present.

What I loved about this book was its premise and the pace at which the author unravels the tale. There is tension, darkness, and lore. However, I wanted more. Having been a fan of Roth’s for a while, I was surprised to read something where I wanted more background, more depth into this world she was trusting us in, and more with these fabulous characters. The time spent with Dymitr and Ala seemed too short to me.

I guess when it comes down to it, reading the book was so addictive that I wished it would have been expanded a little bit in certain areas. It all was too quick, but then again, maybe that is what the author wanted. She could have intended for the reader to only get a glimpse of the life these two characters are living.

Audiobook Note: Narrators Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell bring to life this short novel. They do a wonderful job of propelling the story forward and keeping the pace. However, they could only narrate what they had and as I said, I truly wanted more.

I think the story was probably good, but I did not love the audiobook. Maybe too many accents. It felt like everyone was the same character. I usually like stories by Roth, but the audio wasn't compelling.

Another great book from Veronica Roth! I am always interested in their books, and this one did not disappoint.

Veronica Roth's latest short story delves into Polish folklore with a modern twist. The story follows three main characters on a journey to find Baba Yaga and discover hidden truths about themselves. Baba Yaga plays a crucial background role in the characters' lives. Without revealing too much, the story is short but packed with action, adventure, and self-reflection. The audiobook features different voices for each point of view, and the voice actors impress with their accents and mastery of the Polish language. Although the story could have been expanded into a full-length novel for further world-building, the short version is still fantastic and engaging.

This book was so moody and atmospheric. It draws you in and holds you with this feeling like you are witnessing something that shouldn’t be seen but you can’t look away.

I really enjoyed the tension and the mythology that Roth wove into the story. It was a great read for a rainy afternoon.

I really enjoyed this. Fantasy with roots in Polish folklore was interesting and the voice actors really helped immerse you into the story. I went in with almost no expectations and while it took me a little time to get into it, I found myself looking forward to listening to this more and more. The flashbacks were confusing at times and the twist was something I saw coming, but still an immersive and interesting experience.

A delightful urban fantasy novella. Dymitr is in Chicago from Poland and he's on a Quest to find Baba Jaga. This quest follows a tried-and-true fantasy structure: he picks up some reluctant allies as he works his way through several set pieces in the supernatural underground of the city, fighting magical creatures and revealing truths about themselves they'd rather keep hidden along the way. This feels like a fantasy novel in miniature with a hint of gore and a tiny little touch of romance.

If you like the idea of supernatural creatures living among us, and especially the idea of translating "old world"/folk tale creatures like rusalka, banshees, vampires, etc. into today's world, you'll be into this one. I really liked it!

I also listened to the audiobook of this one. I think it would be most helpful as a tandem read - the book has a lot of slavic words and accents that can make the narration difficult to understand. But it's great if you're reading and want to know how the heck to pronounce "leshy," then it's a great help!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and the use of not-often-used stories of myth and folklore as the central tenets of the story. I thought that the pacing of the story overall needed a little more work, as at times it felt very slow or very rushed. However, I thought that the characters were interesting, unique, well-rounded, and fit well within the overall storyline. Additionally, I thought that the narrator was strong, and was able to flow well with the language and pacing of the story itself.

I’m a sucker for a novella & adore Roth’s writing style. This was no exception.

The polish folklore was phenomenal, as was the integration of the modern Chicago life & the more fantastical elements. I loved the story, the setting, the characters, everything.

Surprisingly enough, I really enjoyed this dark fairytale that pulled in Slavic folklore. A lot happened in this short novella, and it was fun to see it all unfold…even though it was also kind of gruesome a times.
Due to the length of the story, the characters weren’t as developed as I typically like. However, they were developed enough that I would enjoy reading more about them if given the chance.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley

I really enjoyed this story, but I wish the concept had been developed into a full-length series of novels. I was completely immersed in the world and wanted more depth. I wanted to learn more about each character, their powers, backgrounds, and so on. Overall, it was a satisfying novella, and I appreciated the writing and world-building. I hope this isn't the last we see of this world!

May Wrap Up 🌦

In May, I forgot one of my own reading tenets: stop reading when it's not enjoyable. I used to be so.damned.good at dnfing books I wasn't feeling but there is something about receiving arcs that just makes it harder for me to quit. I barely read the last week of the month and then, as soon as I put those books aside, I finished a book in a day 🙈

Absolute favorites this month were #smallthingslikethese (full review on my grid), and #therethere

There, There was a previous bookclub book that I missed out on reading. It follows a large cast of Native American characters living in Oakland, California, all of whom are navigating challenges of identity and family before coming together at a pow wow. The writing is gorgeous and, even though there are lots of characters, each person feels like they are written in 3D.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the advanced audio copy of #whenamongcrows - I enjoyed this story (unsurprising as I think #veronicaroth writes such unique fiction) my only complaint is that I wish there was more of it.

I'm judging myself (and Gill 😈) for how much I enjoyed #forthefans ...

May Reads Ranked ⭐️
📖 Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan
🎧 There, There - Tommy Orange
🎧 Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid
📖🎧 Beautiful World, Where Are You? - Sally Rooney
🎧 When Among Crows - Veronica Roth
📖 For the Fans - Nyla K.
📖 Second to the Right - T.S. Kinley

What was your favorite read in May?

#readingwrapup #mayreading #springreads #tbr #arc #netgalley #readersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #readinginstead