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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I didn’t like the narration and I just didn’t quite jive with the audiobook
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
Gorgeous. The world-building was intense and riveting, reminding me of Hunger Games in its strictly delineated caste system. This novel raises questions of power: who benefits when one group is kept at the bottom of a society? Issues of bias and prejudice are artfully raised through the exciting plot, where a member of the lowest caste must help a member of the highest to protect her family. I grew to love these characters through their revelations and growth. I especially appreciated the diversity of genders, skin tones, and orientations. Really looking forward to the sequel!
Notes:
- Detailed, intricate, thought-out world-building and lore. Always fascinating to learn about the kingdom dynamics and caste system
- Unique magic system
- Complex, interesting main female protagonist
- Non-convincing romantic subplot (with a grand total of 1.5 month timeline)
- Detailed, intricate, thought-out world-building and lore. Always fascinating to learn about the kingdom dynamics and caste system
- Unique magic system
- Complex, interesting main female protagonist
- Non-convincing romantic subplot (with a grand total of 1.5 month timeline)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-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:
No
Actually it would be 4,5 stars, but let's save the half one for the sequel ;). I loved the world that was built in this book. It felt natural, it felt logical and it was fascinating. The caste system made sense and even though the treatment of the Crows was sickening, also that made sense. The characters were well done, unto the point that what should have been a twist wasn't a twist, because that twist just made sense judged by the characters and the development of their relationships beforehand. And even though the story was some kind of road trip, that can get boring quickly, it was interesting enough to keep me reading the entire time.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book put me in the worst reading slump ever and I thought I wouldn't be able to get through this and still seek out the sequel, but when I actually sat down and forced myself to read, I think I actually enjoyed it more, especially toward the end!
the writing style is phenomenal (though it's very action-packed, which I think may have overwhelmed me and contributed to my slump) and I loved the sense of humor/plot/excitement, but I hoped for more with the romance. I found it to be very superficial and hoped for more.
all in all, I liked the social commentary component, and I think this author is highly skilled - would consider picking up the next one!
(side note that I realized I should mention: I LOVED Fie as a main character. she was so well-written and it was always a hoot to see what she was thinking)
the writing style is phenomenal (though it's very action-packed, which I think may have overwhelmed me and contributed to my slump) and I loved the sense of humor/plot/excitement, but I hoped for more with the romance. I found it to be very superficial and hoped for more.
all in all, I liked the social commentary component, and I think this author is highly skilled - would consider picking up the next one!
(side note that I realized I should mention: I LOVED Fie as a main character. she was so well-written and it was always a hoot to see what she was thinking)
DNF at 36%, so withholding a star rating - This book just wasn't for me. I tried to stick with it because the premise was very fascinating, but I don't think the plot execution was what it could have been. And there was WAY too much in the realm of pointed real-life political elements coming from the author (seriously, it felt so contrived), and it big-time got under my skin after awhile. And the writing style was just...not my cup of tea at all. I had to re-read passages on every. single. page because the narrative is clunky and trying too hard to be different and artistic or whatever. Not the kind of book you get lost in! And I've already forgotten the characters, y'all. The MC is supposed to be all baddy and stuff, but frankly, it's hard to relate to her, and by the time I called it quits, her tough-girl act had begun to feel inauthentic and was grating on me. The magic system was pretty neat, but even almost 40% in, I still didn't have a super clear understanding of it. I wanted more of the other castes (besides Peacocks and Hawks), too, to really get a feel for them and their differences, rather than just little snippets of commentary from the perspective of a bunch of jaded Crows. Like, I'm aware the Crows were treated hooooorribly (not being saracastic; they were severely abused), but the narration supplies you with all your knowledge of most of the other castes rather than seeing them for yourself in action, which is preferable for me. And last complaint: stuff happened, but like...nothing happened? LOL! It's hard to explain, but basically it's a lot of the same stuff over and over and over. So yeah -- cool premise, bad execution. Wrong author to write this particular story?
The Merciful Crow is Margaret Owen's debut high fantasy novel, and it's a decent debut. The story centers around 16 year old Fie, a chieftan in training for the Crows, the lowest caste in Sabor. Fie and her family offer quick, merciful death to those suffering from the plague, and their mercy is rewarded with the hatred of the other castes. Fie must protect and guide a young prince and his guardian in order to save her family and protect the future of the crows.
I imagine my review would be higher if I were a young adult rather than an old person reading this book. It has a lot of the hallmarks of a high fantasy YA novel including a romance subplot. The thinks that prevented me from enjoying the book was how detailed the caste system is (so many birds!) and how long the journey is--that definitely made the book drag a bit around the halfway point.
I imagine my review would be higher if I were a young adult rather than an old person reading this book. It has a lot of the hallmarks of a high fantasy YA novel including a romance subplot. The thinks that prevented me from enjoying the book was how detailed the caste system is (so many birds!) and how long the journey is--that definitely made the book drag a bit around the halfway point.