Not my favorite read of the year, but better than I was expecting.

I'm not a huge novella fan - I just feel like I can never fully fall in love with the characters in enough time for me to care about their stories by the end of the book. However, this one did a pretty good job on introducing us to the characters, making us understand their backstory and why they are the way that they are, and actually make me go "oh - I'm glad it ended up that way!" by the end.

Dymitr was an interesting character that actually had a pretty good plot line for being in a novella. We learn that he descends from a family of monster hunters, that he is (and has always been) conflicted about killing monsters just because they aren't human, and that he wants to visit Baba Jaga. That alone makes for an interesting story and boy did it fly by quick. I truly did like him as a character.

I didn't particularly like how quickly his relationships formed with Ala and Niko - it just didn't feel genuine. I liked them as characters, but it just felt like they grew to trust each other and care for each other far too quickly. That was what made it hard for me to suspend my disbelief.

I'm glad we're getting more Slavic stories rather than just our general Western European stories that we're so used to. Pretty easy to listen to via audiobook, so I would recommend it that way (also makes it easier to get pronunciations correct).

This story was shorter than I originally thought it would be but I enjoyed it. The world was interesting and the characters were really good. I also appreciated all of the narrators.

I tried to enjoy this book but the story just wasn't something that I'm interested in.

The narrators were great though.

*3.5/5*

Thank you to Macmillan for the audio copy!

I don't think I'm going to include a synopsis in my review because this story was short and fast-paced, so I don't want to unintentionally give anything away.

When I started listening to this, I honestly forgot what it was about, and I think that kind of peaked my interest even more. But I also didn't realize that it is a standalone novella. I wanted soooo much more from this story because I was so interested in the dynamics of the world and what it could hold. Like I said above, this story was very fast-paced, so if you weren't paying close attention, you could miss something important.

I rarely finish a book and not know what to talk about in my review, but I guess there's always a first! I liked the characters well enough, I just felt like I didn't get to know them very well. Their relationships felt pretty important to moving the story along, but they all felt like they were surface level, not a lot of depth into what was really driving them to work together. I just don't know. So that's why it's getting a 3.5 from me. I just really wanted more.

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

This was a thoroughly enjoyable audiobook experience. I liked that it had multiple narrators as it really helped this story come to life while listening. While it may be a novella, and therefore fairly short, it was still packed full of action. I found Dymitr, Ala and Niko to all be intriguing characters and wanted to know more about them. I liked watching how their relationship dynamics changed as the story went on.

Going into this book I had very little, if any, knowledge of Polish folklore so it really got me interested in it as well!

Overall, I had a good time with this audiobook and would definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy stories based on folklore.

I loved this short novella with Slavic heritage and melancholy vibe. Even for a short book, you get attached to Ala and Dymitr. And as a cherry on the top, there is a twist ;) World building with magic and creatures, amazing writing, fast-pacing book made it almost perfect read. 4.5 stars. Book left me with desire to read more from this universe.
Thank you NetGalley for ARC.

I have mixed feelings about this novella:
It was very interesting to learn about a new culture's stories.
Some of the characters are unique and creative.
It's very short and many of the narrators were excellent

However...
The story felt more like an introduction for a new story.
The short length is good, but it means that there is no development of characters, and a lot of plot holes.
The plot is inconsistent - dragging in parts, and too fast in others.

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth is my favorite story involving Baba Jaga so far. Getting to listen to it as an audiobook was just the frosting on the cake. The audiobook was performed by a cast that included Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell and they did a fantastic job portraying the characters in this story. I wish When Among Crows had been longer than a novella, I loved the storytelling and wanted it to continue!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

This is an interesting story, I wouldn't say that it is fully developed but definitely a good teaser into this world that the fans love. I enjoyed the setting in a recognizable Chicago and also the WWII immigrant aspect, along with the conflicts of different people who were willing, ultimately, to help each other. We could all use more mercy and practice more mercy. Also, the magic was cool. I think those immersed in the books of the world will definitley get more out of this story, but it can also be enjoyed by the unintiated. The audio was well narrated.

On the lookout for a fantastic fantasy novella ? Here‘s my review for When Among Crows by @veronicaroth and it was an audiobook I loved. The combination of a Michigan setting, urban fantasy, Polish folklore, magical elements and the Baba Jaga just made this book for me.
When Among Crows was a fantastic novella. The novella-length book is packed full of action and adventure.
The book follows Dymitr and his quest to find Baba Jaga. He is introduced as someone of pure character but Dymitr comes from a family of monster hunters. Finding the Baba Jaga will not be possible unless he secures the help , of those he's used to hunting.
Dymitr allies himself with Ala, a fear eating zmora who suffers from a curse. Dymitr offers a trade beneficial to both: to help her break her curse if she helps him find Baba Jaga.
Along the way they team up with Niko, a strzygon that takes a liking to Dymitr but when the two „monsters“ learn that he has killed their kind things threaten to fall apart.

This was a great novella and a great audiobook. I would love for more books set in this realm.

The narration was fantastic- I loved my listening.

Ala, Dymitr, and Nico are taken on a journey through Chicago's supernatural underworld together to seek Baba Jaga and defeat the curse that is killing Ala.

I loved the strong Polish folklore elements of the novel. I found the magic and world fascinating, and I really hope this becomes a series because I want to read more about Dymitr, Ala, and Nico as well as the different factions of this world.

All three narrators did such a wonderful job bringing each character to life as well as each character's different level of comfort with speaking Polish.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I was drawn in from the first chapter, in which the reader is at once in Chicago while also part of a magical landscape within the city. The author describes real places in Chicago - the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary from which a forest guardian emerges, and the old and stirringly beautiful St. Stanislaus Church wherein a sacred fern is about to bloom, and then the story unfolds throughout the city, in true-to-life abandoned industrial areas as well as some of its character-filled neighborhoods. As a person who grew up just outside Chicago and still visits, I loved the depictions of the city infused with a darkling sort of magic.

Slavic folklore, and more particularly, Polish, is the root of the magic system in this book. Despite being a descendent of Polish and other Eastern European immigrants who settled around Chicagoland, I am only just becoming familiar with the folklore of this heritage. I appreciated how the author brought it to life so vividly.

The characters are strong and intriguing. The story centers on Dymitr, on a mysterious quest to find the powerful witch Baba Jaga. He encounters Ala, a cursed witch, and Niko, a sort of demon with his own motivations. Their adventures are fast-paced with suspense, and I enjoyed their character development and how their relationships change throughout.

The audiobook narrators Helen Laser, James Fouhey, Tim Campbell do an outstanding job bringing the characters' voices from page to ear. If you enjoy multi-cast audiobook productions, this one is worth checking out.

Overall, I found this novella an immersive read for how short it was. My one critique is that I wouldn't have minded if it was a whole novel to flesh out the plot and characters even more. I would definitely read more if it were to become a series.

Highly recommend for fans of folkloric tales, urban fantasy, magical realism, Chicago, queer romance, and stories of redemption.

I normally am not a fan of this type of mythology (Polish/Russian), especially if it’s an urban fantasy (my least fav type of fantasy setting), but I ending up liking this one! It was engaging and kept my interest and was a unique short story based around Polish myths and legends. Cute queer couple too.

🌈Queer rep: MM main couple

When Among Crows;

Thank you @macmillanaudio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted copy.

I’ve never had a fast fantasy, and honestly, I now get why fantasy is like 400+ pages.

We go head first into the world, and you’re basically supposed to know exactly how the world works. I felt like this was a prequel or something, and I was missing a book, or six.

The part I really liked was the Slavic folklore. It was really twisty and I really enjoyed that aspect. Audio was great as well. Very well done with good pacing.

We jump in fast, we have an ending and I’m still confused on how that’s the end of the book? This definitely should have been like a prequel or at least 200+ more pages.

This had such promise, but did not hit the mark for me.

Out now.

QOTD: What are you reading now?

I absolutely loved this novella and the narration by Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell. If I have any complaint (and it's barely a complaint), it's that the story was so short. However, it has plenty of atmosphere, character development, and interesting plot in such a short time. Dymitr, Ala, and Niko were all believable characters, and who doesn't love a cameo from Baba Yaga? The attention to folkloric detail and the magical elements of the story are the best part. There is no shying away from pain or gore, but it's not overly disgusting. I hope Veronica Roth writes more in this version of magic-touched modern Chicago; the door is certainly open and I would definitely be reading.

Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ALC.

When Among Crows | Veronica Roth

When I got the chance to listen to an arc of this little novella I jumpeddd!!

Veronica Roth wrote the Divergent Series which I absolutely loved. I think she’s since written others but she honestly hadn’t been on my radar for a bit.

This fantasy novella is a 4hr and 29 minute audiobook that is packed with new creatures, unlikely friendships, and a journey filled with discovery.

Honestly I was intrigued from the start- mostly because so many bits of information and world building were slowly leaking and I needed to know how it all fit together.

Sometimes I got confused but by the end I could understand the why’s and how’s and felt deeply for the sacrifice of the characters and it made for a powerful story of atonement.

I do think this could have done better as a full book- so information could become available to us more freely as the story unfolds. I might not have felt so confused with the world building at times or if this novella came in between a series- where we had already been introduced to the world where creatures and humans semi-coexist, I would have enjoyed it much more.

🎧 Excellent Narration from @macmillan.audio !! All the narrators did such a wonderful job. Each of the three main characters had their own narrator with excellent dictation. Thank you so much for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

For those who like vibes of ✨

🏢 Urban Fantasy
🐦‍⬛ Polish Folklore
🩸 Found Family
🗡️ Deadly Curses
🖤 Creatures living among humans
🩸 Redemption & Atonement

🌶️: No explicit scenes- there is a soft kiss with LGBTQ representation in chpt 6

Great narrators on this one!

It was slightly hard to follow on audio so I do recommend reading a text form of it. I liked the concept and it was definitely unique. The story could have been expanded and made longer though! It’s a shame it is a short novella. I loved the Polish folklore and words used in this as it made me feel closer to my heritage. Worth a shot if you’re interested in the summary!

3.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the multiple narrators included in When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. This was my first time reading/listening to a novel by Veronica Roth, and I think her storytelling and narrative techniques are strong because I felt very immersed in the world and like I was trailing along with the characters the whole time.

I liked this book more than I thought I would have and loved the narrators. Though I don't normally like an urban fantasy book, I liked that it invloved the fantasy in a modern city setting. If you loved Divergent, you will love this one! 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the published for the free audiobook of When Among Crows by Veronia Roth in exchange for my honest review.

I have absolutely unpopular opinions on this book. I had to weigh back and forth on how to take this book in. This had such great ingredients for a wonderful book - Slavic folklore, legendary witch Baba Jaga, fight against time, fight against an underworld, modern times - all sounded extremely phenomenal, right? Unfortunately, this flatlined for me.

The writing and the dialogue was simply okay, none of it really reeled me in, which was disappointing when it seemed like the characters were going through major things. I was confused most of the time and had to keep reminding myself - wait, this is modern time. Okay, ancient characters in modern time. Okay, this guy wants to do this. Okay, Ala is so-and-so. But then...what just happened? Nothing stuck and as the book went on, the interest started to ween off. Beautiful cover and a great base line for a story, but too bad the story was mostly bland and barely moved.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and MacMillan Audio for the copy of this book. All opinions are my own.