Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - When Among Crows

Dymitr is man on a mission. What exactly that mission is, he's not saying, but as he makes his way through the hidden parts of Chicago, filled with creatures from Slavic folklore that feed on human emotion, it becomes clear he's looking for Baba Yaga's help with it.

This is a fast-paced novella with excellent world-building and character development. The author reveals Dymitr's secrets one by one as he gets closer to his goal, sliding in perspectives of the other characters along the way,

Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book.

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gondorgirl's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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esme_bonner's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

When Among Crows is a little book that packs a huge punch.

Filled with Polish folklore, big emotions, and familial duty, Roth fits so much into this book, and all of it is handled brilliantly. I was consumed by this, and didn't want it to end. I don't know if this will become a bigger series, but I live in hope!

I adored Dymitr, and the relationships he built. In so little time, and with so few opportunities, Roth crafts a character who is heart-breaking, strong, sad, intriguing, and utterly beautiful. Niko and Ala, similarly, are wonderfully penned, compelling, and devastating. To create 3 characters, each with such personal and relatable sorrow, and have each of them be equally lovable is a feat by itself - Roth also manages to build an exciting and fresh quest around them.

I haven't read anything quite like this before, at once dropped in the middle of an adventure, and at the end of one, and yet, somehow, at the start of one. This felt like the liminal space before the beginning of an epic book, the parts you are spoon-fed in intense flashback, and I loved that. I would love to return to Dymitr's Chicago.

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btwnprintedpgs's review

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challenging dark mysterious 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? No

4.0

Now I need a printed version of this book on my shelf. Atmospheric, emotional, and fantastically woven together, I need this novella injected into my veins.

In such a short time, this story built a rich, paranormal underbelly within modern-day Chicago; made me care immensely about its characters and get emotional over them; and tied together the fates of three people who seemingly have nothing in common other than being relative outsiders within their communities. I loved the writing and the depth we got from the characters despite the format of the story (or because of the format of the story?). The mythological depth was also well done - not too info dumpy, but enough that you understand each class/race so that you care and you can follow.

Am I back in my Veronica Roth era? Who knows. But I am now a huge fan of this book.

TW: death, mutilation, violence, murder, injury detail, alcohol, blood; mentions death of a parent, death of a child

eARC gifted via Edelweiss by Tor Books in exchange for an honest review.

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devynreadsnovels's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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pewterwolf's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

In modern day Chicago, Polish folklore is alive. Monsters feast on human emotion, knights split their souls to make their weapons and witches always take more than what they give.

Pain brings Dymitr and Ala together. Dymitr’s pain is the monsters he and the other Knights of the Holy Order slay and split his soul into two to create his sword from his own spine, while Ala’s is the family curse she has inherited to see visions Of the horrors that the Holy Order committed.

One fateful night, the two meet and agree a bargain: if Ala can help find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. In exchange, Dymitr will give her an enchanted flower that might cure her.

But Ala doesn’t know who Dymitr is and what he truly wants and with less than 24 hours before the flower dies, killing her hopes of the curse being broken, the two need to move fast. But others want the flower and Baba Jaga’s location and they aren’t afraid to hurt and kill to get them…

It’s been a long time since I read Veronica Roth, but there was something about this that got me excited.

I will admit that this does have a slower start as this does throw you at the deep end. There is a lot of world-building at the start of the novella to explain the folklore, the urban fantasiness. Because of this, I did struggle to find my feet and to keep all the creatures straight in my head (if you know Polish folklore, it will help you get you on a even heel).

However, once this story gets over the world-building and the story/characters find their feet, the story runs and it fits an urban fantasy (though the cover doesn’t scream urban fantasy, but something a little more gothic).

It grows into a gripping read though I do feel that it could be a tad longer (not a full blown novel, but an extra few pages to flesh out ideas as I do think some readers will find that some aspects of the premise needed to be more fleshed out). Plus, I would have loved more pages to read the gentle and sweet M/M romance.

Might not be every urban fantasy readers cup of tea, I really liked this and feel that we could have more novellas in this world, very similar to Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series (if this does happen, I will be all over it!)

***eProof gifted by UK publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction***

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thecanadianbookworm's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

It's funny how I seem to gravitate to series usually, yet I have a growing love for fantasy novellas.

I love how much depth of character, and world building they can have in such a short time.

This novella is one of the best I've ever read, and I don't say that lightly considering I rarely enjoy urban fantasy.

Dymitr's story, told in the span of 2 days, is beautiful and haunting. I absolutely adored the dynamic between him, Ala and Niko!

The lore? Wow. I would absolutely LOVE to see more books in this world.

If you like dark, gritty, well built yet fast paced fantasy: be sure to check this out.

I won't summarize more than the synopsis does, because I truly think the best way to enjoy this story is by going in blind.

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