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jennifervenia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“It's okay not to know. It's okay to question. It's okay to
change your mind. It's okay to change your label or not want a label at all. It's okay to challenge the heteronormative standards of the society. Hell, it's okay to challenge amatonormative standards of the society.”
Hello to my new favourite book.
I was captured from the first page and was unable to stop reading, and I enjoyed the entire book. The prologue was very interesting, and it really made me more excited about Little Black Bird. I loved that Anna Kirchner has included a language guide, it was really useful.
Little Black Bird starts with mysteries and suspense, that continues through the entire book. I really enjoyed how the plot developed through Little Black Bird, it kept me wanting to read more and unable to guess what would happende. The story flows very well, and it never felt out of place. Anna Kirchner write descriptions very well, there is no unnessecessay descriptions, the descriptions are clear and to the point. The descriptions makes it easy to imagine the places in Little Black Bird.
I really liked the different characters (Wiktoria is my favourite), they were well written and easy to relate to. I especially like how Wiktorias relationship is portrayed to the different characters, the relationships felt very realistic.
It was really interesting to read about Slavic mythology and I fully enjoyed reading about Slavic mythology, it was fascinating.
Little Black Bird met all my expectations, and then surpassed all my expectations.
I absolutely love the cover, it is gorgeous and it fits the story.
For me this book is perfect, and I am very happy to have read it. I would have loved to have Little Black Bird as a child/teenager, back when I started reading in my freetime.
change your mind. It's okay to change your label or not want a label at all. It's okay to challenge the heteronormative standards of the society. Hell, it's okay to challenge amatonormative standards of the society.”
Hello to my new favourite book.
I was captured from the first page and was unable to stop reading, and I enjoyed the entire book. The prologue was very interesting, and it really made me more excited about Little Black Bird. I loved that Anna Kirchner has included a language guide, it was really useful.
Little Black Bird starts with mysteries and suspense, that continues through the entire book. I really enjoyed how the plot developed through Little Black Bird, it kept me wanting to read more and unable to guess what would happende. The story flows very well, and it never felt out of place. Anna Kirchner write descriptions very well, there is no unnessecessay descriptions, the descriptions are clear and to the point. The descriptions makes it easy to imagine the places in Little Black Bird.
I really liked the different characters (Wiktoria is my favourite), they were well written and easy to relate to. I especially like how Wiktorias relationship is portrayed to the different characters, the relationships felt very realistic.
It was really interesting to read about Slavic mythology and I fully enjoyed reading about Slavic mythology, it was fascinating.
Little Black Bird met all my expectations, and then surpassed all my expectations.
I absolutely love the cover, it is gorgeous and it fits the story.
For me this book is perfect, and I am very happy to have read it. I would have loved to have Little Black Bird as a child/teenager, back when I started reading in my freetime.
dazzle_spider_reader_1212's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
callistanagirl's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. The entire concept is great with the sorcerers and Guardians and demons and all that. It all just felt so real? I also really enjoyed that it was set in Poland, because so very few books are, and learning about the Slavic mythology. It's just you know an amazing book in general!! It wasn't what I was expecting before I started it or even in the beginning of the book, but I couldn't imagine any way it could possibly be better. And then the characters... Those were my absolute favourites. Both her cousins for being so supportive and just generally great, and Artur (plus a few others of course). And the aro/ace stuff? AMAZING. It just made me so so so happy. Possible SPOILER WARNING HERE!!!!! I absolutely loved the way it was talked about it the book. Her confusion, and how she kept questioning herself. And their relationship dynamic. I think a qpr would be the best way to describe their relationship? Which just made me so so so happy because I've never seen that in a book before. Ace characters always just either end up alone or in a romantic relationship, both of which are great, but they aren't the only options and I loved seeing that represented here.
Basically, everything about this book made me really happy. I'm so thankful it exists. Now I just need to know how their story continues...
Basically, everything about this book made me really happy. I'm so thankful it exists. Now I just need to know how their story continues...
whatjanereads's review against another edition
If you’re into (queer) YA urban fantasy, you will love this!!!
There’s magic, there’s deamons, an amazing group of friends and the humour is fantastic. Everyone seems to be morally grey, so we don’t really have a single villain...but many villains who are also kind of nice?! I like that!
Also all bookworms will love the numerous book references.
There’s magic, there’s deamons, an amazing group of friends and the humour is fantastic. Everyone seems to be morally grey, so we don’t really have a single villain...but many villains who are also kind of nice?! I like that!
Also all bookworms will love the numerous book references.
isabeltavares's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
TW: torture
Little Black Bird follows Wiktoria, a seventeen-year-old on her last year of school and studying to be accepted into Medical school. However, her powers get in the way of her normal life. She is telekinetic but she isn't able to control her powers and when she uses them, it hurts her. Her powers are tabu in her family and she feels it made her family not love her as they should. Or that she doesn't deserve their love. One day, she gets noticed by someone and her story begins to unravel.
It's impossible not to care about Wiktoria, Artur, and all their friends and family. Kirchner does a great job of transferring their emotions to the reader, the sadness, the loneliness, happiness, and despair. As the book ended, I felt sad at the prospect of saying goodbye to these characters. I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the sequel (please!)
However, what I loved the most was the Slavic mythology. This is a fantasy novel set around this mythology and I genuinely loved learning the stories through Wiktoria and how it influenced the plot.
The negative aspects amount to the pacing and the lack of atmosphere. The pacing was completely off with the story going very quickly. At times I felt disconnected from what was happening and I couldn't grasp the information the characters were learning. I also wish the writing could have bee more atmospheric with the city and landscape descriptions. There's a scene in a forest that had so much potential and it didn't immerse me because of the lack of atmosphere.
Regardless, there's a positive discussion about consent, especially in a relationship and sexuality. The asexuality representation had me in tears, especially with that last scene (MY HEART!) I'm so eager to read the sequel and see what is going to happen next!
TW: torture
Once upon a time, in a cursed city, three magic-users set out to summon a devil. They were lucky. The devil, for its own nefarious reasons, cared about their goal as much as they did, so it gave them a good bargain.
Their worst fears came true.
Little Black Bird follows Wiktoria, a seventeen-year-old on her last year of school and studying to be accepted into Medical school. However, her powers get in the way of her normal life. She is telekinetic but she isn't able to control her powers and when she uses them, it hurts her. Her powers are tabu in her family and she feels it made her family not love her as they should. Or that she doesn't deserve their love. One day, she gets noticed by someone and her story begins to unravel.
It's impossible not to care about Wiktoria, Artur, and all their friends and family. Kirchner does a great job of transferring their emotions to the reader, the sadness, the loneliness, happiness, and despair. As the book ended, I felt sad at the prospect of saying goodbye to these characters. I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the sequel (please!)
However, what I loved the most was the Slavic mythology. This is a fantasy novel set around this mythology and I genuinely loved learning the stories through Wiktoria and how it influenced the plot.
The negative aspects amount to the pacing and the lack of atmosphere. The pacing was completely off with the story going very quickly. At times I felt disconnected from what was happening and I couldn't grasp the information the characters were learning. I also wish the writing could have bee more atmospheric with the city and landscape descriptions. There's a scene in a forest that had so much potential and it didn't immerse me because of the lack of atmosphere.
Regardless, there's a positive discussion about consent, especially in a relationship and sexuality. The asexuality representation had me in tears, especially with that last scene (MY HEART!) I'm so eager to read the sequel and see what is going to happen next!
lettuce_read's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
bettyreadsbooks's review
5.0
"You know, there’s this bullshit idea that you just magically know when you like someone romantically or sexually. But that’s all it is—bullshit. Emotions are messy. People are messy." - Little Black Bird, Anna Kirchner
Where do I even start with this book? I've known about this almost silence I started following Anna on Instagram and I've been so incredibly excited about it ever since! I was so happy to get a chance to read it early, and this book really did not disappoint! It has friendship, magic and demons, and is a bit like Shadowhunters with a The Bone Seasons feel to it.
I loved this book. I'm generally a pretty slow reader and I've been in a huge reading slump lately but I flew through this, binge read it over two days, feel asleep on my phone in the middle of the night because I couldn't stop reading. I don't do that, like, ever.
What I loved the most about this book was the characters. I love Wiktoria for being brave and strong and smart, and chaotic and confused. For picking up her phone to Google what to do when a demon approaches. I love Artur for being a precious cinnamon roll and definitely the ideal person to share a magical bond with. I love Laura, Rafi and Karina for being awesome. And Zuzanna for being unlikeable but interesting. I love that there is not villain, only people with their own interests at heart. I also loved that this book is steeped in slavic mythology and culture – if you enjoy Anna's #SlavicSunday posts, you'll love all the mythological aspect of this book! (continues in the comments) Over all, it's just incredibly refreshing to read a book that's set in a country and culture that isn't the US or even UK, and I really enjoyed that! Apart from that, this book has a lot of discussion of sexuality and questioning main characters. It has adventures, magic, friendship. Very short chapters which I always really love for some reason. Lots of pop cultural references! It's funny, and you can feel just how much love went into this book! It was so great, and I suggest you all pick it up when it's out on June 20th!
Where do I even start with this book? I've known about this almost silence I started following Anna on Instagram and I've been so incredibly excited about it ever since! I was so happy to get a chance to read it early, and this book really did not disappoint! It has friendship, magic and demons, and is a bit like Shadowhunters with a The Bone Seasons feel to it.
I loved this book. I'm generally a pretty slow reader and I've been in a huge reading slump lately but I flew through this, binge read it over two days, feel asleep on my phone in the middle of the night because I couldn't stop reading. I don't do that, like, ever.
What I loved the most about this book was the characters. I love Wiktoria for being brave and strong and smart, and chaotic and confused. For picking up her phone to Google what to do when a demon approaches. I love Artur for being a precious cinnamon roll and definitely the ideal person to share a magical bond with. I love Laura, Rafi and Karina for being awesome. And Zuzanna for being unlikeable but interesting. I love that there is not villain, only people with their own interests at heart. I also loved that this book is steeped in slavic mythology and culture – if you enjoy Anna's #SlavicSunday posts, you'll love all the mythological aspect of this book! (continues in the comments) Over all, it's just incredibly refreshing to read a book that's set in a country and culture that isn't the US or even UK, and I really enjoyed that! Apart from that, this book has a lot of discussion of sexuality and questioning main characters. It has adventures, magic, friendship. Very short chapters which I always really love for some reason. Lots of pop cultural references! It's funny, and you can feel just how much love went into this book! It was so great, and I suggest you all pick it up when it's out on June 20th!
_ckarys's review against another edition
4.0
My queer reading list took an unexpected turn this June, but sometimes the saying “quality is better than quantity” is true, and I’m glad my quality ended up being LITTLE BLACK BIRD. Why? Because it’s fantasy, it’s queer and it’s different.
LITTLE BLACK BIRD is a pearl of magical realism. The story is set in a modern-day Poland and stars Wictoria, a teenage girl with magical abilities she struggles to control trying to live a normal life…until she can’t. Wiktoria finds herself wrapped up in a story that’s much bigger and more complicated than she realizes, with a curse that is closely tied to her magic and that forces her to dig up the secrets of her upbringing.
The characters were definitely my favorite part of the book. Wiktoria herself was a breath of fresh air, veering away from the traditional YA protagonist that is either too perfect or too whiny. Her personality was a very relatable in between. The discoveries and situations she finds herself in called for moments of panic, but the rationality and intelligence with which she faced them made perfect sense. This isn’t a character that gladly walks into danger or makes stupidly brave decisions, and I very much enjoyed this about her, as well as her snarky personality and the frequent references she made to pop-culture.
Wiktoria could count on the support of an amazing cast of characters, among which the shining star was definitely Artur. As far as book boyfriends go, Artur has all the elements to make me swoon: he’s handsome, he’s funny, he’s protective and he’s respectful. I love the way the author built up the relationship between Wiktoria and Artur and how she very originally utilized one of my absolute favorite romance tropes, which I won’t spill because I don’t want to spoil. Is there a ship in the air? Certainly yes, but it’s a very different ship than what I’m used to, which leads me to the topic of queerness.
In many queer books I’ve read before, the characters are already quite certain of their identity and quite confident with it. This was not the case with the characters of Little Black Bird. Though there are some characters who wear their identity with pride, many—including Wiki—are still questioning and exploring. Something I really enjoyed was the asexual representation, which has opened a world to me and made me eager to explore more reads with this kind of rep.
Other elements I enjoyed were the Slavic mythology, the multifaceted aspects of magic and the gray morality of all characters involved. The line between heroes and villains is very blurred, and I’m counting on the future books to help me understand whom I can and cannot trust. My one “issue” was that sometimes I felt a bit aggravated by the refusal of some of the characters to provide clear answers, and while it did add to the mystery, it felt a bit stalling to the pace for my tastes. Still the book flowed really well for the most part and I am eagerly waiting for the next book!
LITTLE BLACK BIRD is a pearl of magical realism. The story is set in a modern-day Poland and stars Wictoria, a teenage girl with magical abilities she struggles to control trying to live a normal life…until she can’t. Wiktoria finds herself wrapped up in a story that’s much bigger and more complicated than she realizes, with a curse that is closely tied to her magic and that forces her to dig up the secrets of her upbringing.
The characters were definitely my favorite part of the book. Wiktoria herself was a breath of fresh air, veering away from the traditional YA protagonist that is either too perfect or too whiny. Her personality was a very relatable in between. The discoveries and situations she finds herself in called for moments of panic, but the rationality and intelligence with which she faced them made perfect sense. This isn’t a character that gladly walks into danger or makes stupidly brave decisions, and I very much enjoyed this about her, as well as her snarky personality and the frequent references she made to pop-culture.
Wiktoria could count on the support of an amazing cast of characters, among which the shining star was definitely Artur. As far as book boyfriends go, Artur has all the elements to make me swoon: he’s handsome, he’s funny, he’s protective and he’s respectful. I love the way the author built up the relationship between Wiktoria and Artur and how she very originally utilized one of my absolute favorite romance tropes, which I won’t spill because I don’t want to spoil. Is there a ship in the air? Certainly yes, but it’s a very different ship than what I’m used to, which leads me to the topic of queerness.
In many queer books I’ve read before, the characters are already quite certain of their identity and quite confident with it. This was not the case with the characters of Little Black Bird. Though there are some characters who wear their identity with pride, many—including Wiki—are still questioning and exploring. Something I really enjoyed was the asexual representation, which has opened a world to me and made me eager to explore more reads with this kind of rep.
Other elements I enjoyed were the Slavic mythology, the multifaceted aspects of magic and the gray morality of all characters involved. The line between heroes and villains is very blurred, and I’m counting on the future books to help me understand whom I can and cannot trust. My one “issue” was that sometimes I felt a bit aggravated by the refusal of some of the characters to provide clear answers, and while it did add to the mystery, it felt a bit stalling to the pace for my tastes. Still the book flowed really well for the most part and I am eagerly waiting for the next book!
thatbookwhisperer's review against another edition
4.0
Aspec rep with Slavic mythology and mind-reading? Yes please!
Pros:
-I really enjoyed getting to learn more about Slavic mythology cause it’s so fascinating and not commonly talked about
-the characters were likeable and well-developed , I specifically liked the way Artur and Wiktoria’s bond was written. It was compassionate and genuine without them trying to ‘fix’ the other.
-I really liked Rafi, he was a very wise and funny character. Honestly wish he was in more scenes
-I liked getting to see everyone’s powers
Cons:
-none
In conclusion, the book made me really happy and I highly recommend!
Pros:
-I really enjoyed getting to learn more about Slavic mythology cause it’s so fascinating and not commonly talked about
-the characters were likeable and well-developed , I specifically liked the way Artur and Wiktoria’s bond was written. It was compassionate and genuine without them trying to ‘fix’ the other.
-I really liked Rafi, he was a very wise and funny character. Honestly wish he was in more scenes
-I liked getting to see everyone’s powers
Cons:
-none
In conclusion, the book made me really happy and I highly recommend!