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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Loved the world building and the magic. It would have been a five star read if not for the unrealistic yet predictable romance.
✨️ 3/5 ✨️
Way too long, lost me about halfway. Characters were good but could have been deeper.
Way too long, lost me about halfway. Characters were good but could have been deeper.
It has been a while since I read this book, so I will try my best with this review.
One of my favorite things about this book was the surprising romance. Not necessarily Tavin (he's fine, but he's not my favorite), but it was the fact that after reading the blurb and knowing it was YA, I made a prediction about the romance. In books like these, typically the main character gets matched with the prince, so after the first chapter or so, when Tavin started flirting with Fie, I was pleasantly surprised.
Another thing I loved about this book was the diversity and representation. All of the main characters were black or middle-eastern, or something along those lines, and I might be wrong, but I don't think any characters at all were white. After millions of books with only white characters have been published, I'm glad to see a story where it's the exact opposite. The discrimination themes didn't focus on race either, more on the social hierarchy and the caste system, which is very similar to the caste system in India. Not to mention the talks about consent and sex, periods, and sexuality.
Character-wise, Fie is great. At first glance, she definitely appears as your typical YA protagonist, but after a bit, I feel like there's a lot more to her character. Instead of being headstrong all the time, she makes mistakes because of her stubbornness. Another important note is that she's not the headstrong but clueless protagonist. She knows what's going on and it's Jas and Tavin that are screwing everything up. Speaking of Jas, he's made it to my Fictional Character Adoption List, and I loved his character arc of being stuck up and spoiled to becoming sweet and innocent and a good best friend for Fie.
And then we have Tavin. He's a stereotypical YA love interest in my eyes, awkward and charming, but simultaneously loyal to a fault and migraine-inducing. At least for me. His attempts to flirt with Fie in the beginning were funny to me, but I was also extremely annoyed with him for his tendency to spoil Jas so that he was comfortable and no one else was. His trick at the beginning with Pa where he just casually ordered to be brought with them ticked me off immensely, and at the end when he sacrificed himself I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes. Over-protective male love interests just aren't my thing, I guess.
A really good book, but not as good as the sequel, so if you've read this, I recommend the next one.
One of my favorite things about this book was the surprising romance. Not necessarily Tavin (he's fine, but he's not my favorite), but it was the fact that after reading the blurb and knowing it was YA, I made a prediction about the romance. In books like these, typically the main character gets matched with the prince, so after the first chapter or so, when Tavin started flirting with Fie, I was pleasantly surprised.
Another thing I loved about this book was the diversity and representation. All of the main characters were black or middle-eastern, or something along those lines, and I might be wrong, but I don't think any characters at all were white. After millions of books with only white characters have been published, I'm glad to see a story where it's the exact opposite. The discrimination themes didn't focus on race either, more on the social hierarchy and the caste system, which is very similar to the caste system in India. Not to mention the talks about consent and sex, periods, and sexuality.
Character-wise, Fie is great. At first glance, she definitely appears as your typical YA protagonist, but after a bit, I feel like there's a lot more to her character. Instead of being headstrong all the time, she makes mistakes because of her stubbornness. Another important note is that she's not the headstrong but clueless protagonist. She knows what's going on and it's Jas and Tavin that are screwing everything up. Speaking of Jas, he's made it to my Fictional Character Adoption List, and I loved his character arc of being stuck up and spoiled to becoming sweet and innocent and a good best friend for Fie.
And then we have Tavin. He's a stereotypical YA love interest in my eyes, awkward and charming, but simultaneously loyal to a fault and migraine-inducing. At least for me. His attempts to flirt with Fie in the beginning were funny to me, but I was also extremely annoyed with him for his tendency to spoil Jas so that he was comfortable and no one else was. His trick at the beginning with Pa where he just casually ordered to be brought with them ticked me off immensely, and at the end when he sacrificed himself I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes. Over-protective male love interests just aren't my thing, I guess.
A really good book, but not as good as the sequel, so if you've read this, I recommend the next one.
I got 60% of the way through and skimmed ahead a bit on my Kindle to see what lay ahead and I just... oof. I can't do it anymore.
I was fully intrigued by the world and the Crows at the beginning, but
I do think Margaret Owen's got a good writing voice, but this just didn't do it for me.
I was fully intrigued by the world and the Crows at the beginning, but
Spoiler
once her Pa and the rest of the Crows were killed/captured and it just left her and the Hawk and the prince, I just stopped caring. See, the Hawk (I don't remember his name) and the prince were not compelling enough characters to me to stand on the same ground as the main character. Especially because the Hawk and Fie(?)'s romance just didn't sit right with me. Like, they tried to bring him around to accepting her as she was--sort of--but it didn't feel like it rang true. It might largely have to do with the fact that the caste system in this book heavily implies that Crows are just... nonexistent almost. Like, they have the minimal amount of power in terms of being immune to the plague, but when push comes to shove, they can't do much because the system literally has a fail-safe in place to prevent them from stepping out of line--the White Oleanders. Which, at first, I was under the impression that they were a separate group from the castes who were employed to dispatch of Crows when they got "too big for their britches" or whatever, but no, they're just people in the caste that get pissed and run down Crows for fun/revenge. So, the fact that the Crows start out SO LOW on the rungs makes this romance incredibly... unequal to me. Like, Fie doesn't know how to fight beyond using the teeth (which is both cool and incredibly gross), she's never killed anyone, she still relies heavily on her father to guide her, and, although the book tries to paint her as "strong" she comes across as incredibly uncertain and weak. Which wouldn't be a bad thing if there weren't a romance here between someone from a caste much higher than hers who often make a habit of assaulting Crows for doing something as simple as being where they're not supposed to. Instead, we're sold that she's one of the strongest Crows--set up to be a chief, even--even though she doesn't know if she wants to or what she even wants, besides maybe revenge? Idk. None of it sat right with me. And that's putting aside a lot of the narrative aspects of the book that don't make a ton of sense if you look too closely. Like, maybe they get explained later, but I can't be bothered to trudge through a romance I don't like for a smidgen of plot.I do think Margaret Owen's got a good writing voice, but this just didn't do it for me.
I really enjoyed this book; awesome world building, solid romance, great pacing and I am a sucker for properly tough-as-nails female protagonists.
The Merciful Crow is an imaginative fantasy novel that fails to thoroughly engage the reader.
I THINK I HAVE A HABIT OF SHELVING BOOKS WITH "CROW" IN THE TITLE NOW. No mourners, no funerals I guess.
Nails scrape the marble,
Fire sparks from forgotten teeth
Give the Crows respect
Well, I think I'll keep writing haiku for my short reviews now. You're welcome.
In all fairness, I found The Merciful Crow fun to read. At first, I was confused with a lot of fantasy-book-induced jargon and I was really bothered by the author's choice of complex words instead of opting for the simple ones. But eventually, I caught my bearings and found the world interesting. I also thought the dialogue witty and entertaining. I was also gripped by the different castes, their Birthrights, the plague, and the unique role of the Crows.
I also have to applaud Margaret Owen for writing such a fireball of a character like Fie. I admired her spirit, willpower, and her sharp tongue. I have to admit that I loved reading about Tavin as well. He has great chemistry with Fie and I must say that I shipped them immediately when Fie punched him in the face the first time she saw him. THAT'S the kind of ship I'd like to invest my emotions in.
However, I didn't quite like Jas (the prince) at first because he didn't really have a personality for the first half of the book and he just seemed to be there as a plot device. My perception of him changed gradually though. I learned to appreciate him as a character but I still think that he could have been more fleshed-out. Jas's friendship with Fie was something I didn't expect I would love but here I am now, an utter and complete trash for their unexpected friendship. Cue the waterworks.
All in all, The Merciful Crow is an engaging page-turner that I thoroughly enjoyed. I just didn't give it five stars because there were portions in the book that fell flat and I got tired of the traveling narrative as I plowed through the book. It was just a repetitive storyline of walking and hiding which got really old too fast. I think this aspect of the book also dragged the story on. There were also times when Owen's style of writing became confusing and I ended up rereading passages twice or thrice.
Nevertheless, I was still very much invested in the story and I also admire the social commentary that this book gives regarding social hierarchies. I'm very excited for the sequel even though by the time it releases, I won't be able to remember about 80% of this book. Such is the bookdragon life.
Nails scrape the marble,
Fire sparks from forgotten teeth
Give the Crows respect
Well, I think I'll keep writing haiku for my short reviews now. You're welcome.
In all fairness, I found The Merciful Crow fun to read. At first, I was confused with a lot of fantasy-book-induced jargon and I was really bothered by the author's choice of complex words instead of opting for the simple ones. But eventually, I caught my bearings and found the world interesting. I also thought the dialogue witty and entertaining. I was also gripped by the different castes, their Birthrights, the plague, and the unique role of the Crows.
I also have to applaud Margaret Owen for writing such a fireball of a character like Fie. I admired her spirit, willpower, and her sharp tongue. I have to admit that I loved reading about Tavin as well. He has great chemistry with Fie and I must say that I shipped them immediately when Fie punched him in the face the first time she saw him. THAT'S the kind of ship I'd like to invest my emotions in.
However, I didn't quite like Jas (the prince) at first because he didn't really have a personality for the first half of the book and he just seemed to be there as a plot device. My perception of him changed gradually though. I learned to appreciate him as a character but I still think that he could have been more fleshed-out. Jas's friendship with Fie was something I didn't expect I would love but here I am now, an utter and complete trash for their unexpected friendship. Cue the waterworks.
All in all, The Merciful Crow is an engaging page-turner that I thoroughly enjoyed. I just didn't give it five stars because there were portions in the book that fell flat and I got tired of the traveling narrative as I plowed through the book. It was just a repetitive storyline of walking and hiding which got really old too fast. I think this aspect of the book also dragged the story on. There were also times when Owen's style of writing became confusing and I ended up rereading passages twice or thrice.
Nevertheless, I was still very much invested in the story and I also admire the social commentary that this book gives regarding social hierarchies. I'm very excited for the sequel even though by the time it releases, I won't be able to remember about 80% of this book. Such is the bookdragon life.
I just finished this book and everything about it has already left my memory because of how dull and mediocre it was
This book has been on my TBR pile for a while, and since I'm in the process of clearing out my backlog, it was time to pick it up. Overall, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I think Owen writes well and has a good sense for pace (which is helpful because I usually don't like plots that are akin to a roadtrip). I also thought the world was interesting, though it did seem to get overcomplex at times. In the end, I gave this book 4 stars and am intrigued enough to read the second book.
WRITING: Owen's prose flows well and gives readers a clear picture of what's going on. I think it balanced showing and telling appropriately, and it moved along at a pace that I found appropriate.
I also think Owen portrayed the multi-faceted nature of prejudice well. In a lot of fantasy, prejudice seems to manifest mostly in the form of insults or violence. In this book, there is some of that, but there is also an effective meditation on things like justice and how Crows have to navigate the world (using separate gates, staying away from certain spaces). The book even brings up language and unconscious bias in ways that felt natural. Overall, I was impressed; rather than feel overfull, the way prejudice was woven into the world felt like a reflection of how its woven into ours.
The main thing I think I can criticize, however, was the worldbuilding. At times, there almost seemed to be too much world and some aspects could have been simplified. There are also some aspects to the world that never seem to be explained or fully made use of; for example, we don't really delve too much into the plague and the concept of sinners though the two structure every part of the Crows' lives. There are also a lot of castes that don't really feel present.
PLOT: The plot of this book follows Fie, a member of the Crow caste who is training to be the next chief of her band. The story begins when Fie's band is called to dispose of the remains of two high-caste plague victims; in this world, only Crows (the lowest caste) are able to touch plague victims and offer them mercy killings, and this makes them both necessary but loathed by the rest of the castes. But when Fie's band discovers that the two victims are alive and have, in fact, faked their deaths, Fie is drawn into a political plot that threatens to put her family and whole caste at risk.
I usually don't like plots where characters are on a roadtrip or being chased, but this story felt well-balanced. Scenes never had just one thing going on; for example, characters would play games or practice fighting with one another and there was always another layer to the interaction (talking about prejudice, verbal sparring, etc). I also liked that the chase wasn't the whole book; most of it occurs in the muddle third while parts one and three deal with other aspects of the plot. As a result, I didn't feel like the story was dragging or that Owen was inventing nonsensical scenes just to extend the time on the run.
I also liked the relationship between Fie and the bodyguard, Tavin. For a while, I was afraid that a romance would develop between Fie and the prince, but Owen went a smarter route and gave Fie more chemistry with Tavin. As a result, there was even more opportunity to talk about how royal castes don't really understand the lives of their subjects and how lived experience bars understanding. I also liked how having to devote one's life to other people became something Fie and Tavin could bond over, and a lot of their conversations felt really productive.
CHARACTERS: Fie, our protagonist, is sympathetic in that she's part of a caste that is despised by the whole of society. I really liked how Fie communicated the necessity of acting in certain ways to avoid trouble and how standing up against injustice could bring more wrath upon her family. It was an honest look at how prejudice works and I could feel Fie's frustration the more the Prince and his bodyguard made demands of her.
Jasimir, the prince, is interesting in part because of his utter lack of knowledge and cluelessness. While he's not incompetent, it's clear that he understands nothing about surviving as a Crow, and while he tries to be kind, there are some things he just hasn't unlearned. He wasn't awful, so I didn't want him to die or anything; he was just a really good example of how lived experience can blind you to the injustice others face.
Tavin, the bodyguard, was compelling due to his efforts to really understand Fie and her life. Tavin messes up plenty of times like Jasimir does, but he makes it a priority to learn from Fie and try to help her in any way he can.
TL;DR: The Merciful Crow is a compelling exploration of prejudice, told through the eyes of someone who is part of an "untouchable" caste. While the worldbuilding got a bit overcomplicated, the character interactions and the way they talked about injustice kept me interested, and I look forward to the second book in this duology.
WRITING: Owen's prose flows well and gives readers a clear picture of what's going on. I think it balanced showing and telling appropriately, and it moved along at a pace that I found appropriate.
I also think Owen portrayed the multi-faceted nature of prejudice well. In a lot of fantasy, prejudice seems to manifest mostly in the form of insults or violence. In this book, there is some of that, but there is also an effective meditation on things like justice and how Crows have to navigate the world (using separate gates, staying away from certain spaces). The book even brings up language and unconscious bias in ways that felt natural. Overall, I was impressed; rather than feel overfull, the way prejudice was woven into the world felt like a reflection of how its woven into ours.
The main thing I think I can criticize, however, was the worldbuilding. At times, there almost seemed to be too much world and some aspects could have been simplified. There are also some aspects to the world that never seem to be explained or fully made use of; for example, we don't really delve too much into the plague and the concept of sinners though the two structure every part of the Crows' lives. There are also a lot of castes that don't really feel present.
PLOT: The plot of this book follows Fie, a member of the Crow caste who is training to be the next chief of her band. The story begins when Fie's band is called to dispose of the remains of two high-caste plague victims; in this world, only Crows (the lowest caste) are able to touch plague victims and offer them mercy killings, and this makes them both necessary but loathed by the rest of the castes. But when Fie's band discovers that the two victims are alive and have, in fact, faked their deaths, Fie is drawn into a political plot that threatens to put her family and whole caste at risk.
I usually don't like plots where characters are on a roadtrip or being chased, but this story felt well-balanced. Scenes never had just one thing going on; for example, characters would play games or practice fighting with one another and there was always another layer to the interaction (talking about prejudice, verbal sparring, etc). I also liked that the chase wasn't the whole book; most of it occurs in the muddle third while parts one and three deal with other aspects of the plot. As a result, I didn't feel like the story was dragging or that Owen was inventing nonsensical scenes just to extend the time on the run.
I also liked the relationship between Fie and the bodyguard, Tavin. For a while, I was afraid that a romance would develop between Fie and the prince, but Owen went a smarter route and gave Fie more chemistry with Tavin. As a result, there was even more opportunity to talk about how royal castes don't really understand the lives of their subjects and how lived experience bars understanding. I also liked how having to devote one's life to other people became something Fie and Tavin could bond over, and a lot of their conversations felt really productive.
CHARACTERS: Fie, our protagonist, is sympathetic in that she's part of a caste that is despised by the whole of society. I really liked how Fie communicated the necessity of acting in certain ways to avoid trouble and how standing up against injustice could bring more wrath upon her family. It was an honest look at how prejudice works and I could feel Fie's frustration the more the Prince and his bodyguard made demands of her.
Jasimir, the prince, is interesting in part because of his utter lack of knowledge and cluelessness. While he's not incompetent, it's clear that he understands nothing about surviving as a Crow, and while he tries to be kind, there are some things he just hasn't unlearned. He wasn't awful, so I didn't want him to die or anything; he was just a really good example of how lived experience can blind you to the injustice others face.
Tavin, the bodyguard, was compelling due to his efforts to really understand Fie and her life. Tavin messes up plenty of times like Jasimir does, but he makes it a priority to learn from Fie and try to help her in any way he can.
TL;DR: The Merciful Crow is a compelling exploration of prejudice, told through the eyes of someone who is part of an "untouchable" caste. While the worldbuilding got a bit overcomplicated, the character interactions and the way they talked about injustice kept me interested, and I look forward to the second book in this duology.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes