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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!
alwaysshure's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence
thereadingfaery's review against another edition
5.0
I honestly don't know where to start about this book. I beta-read it a while ago, and I loved it back then, it was a solid four stars, but now, after reading the ARC, well, it's definitely five stars. Honestly, this book... there aren't words good enough to describe how I feel about this book, other than it made me feel everything.
The characters were the highlight of this story. I mean, the mythology is so interesting, the plot is very well-paced, and there are so many great things about this book, but the characters are just special. Wiki is so easy to relate to and impossible not to like, and Artur... you guys, Artur is just the sweetest guy on the planet. I want to be best friends with him. But seriously, these characters are so incredibly well-written and they truly pop off the page, they feel so real.
The plot is very well-paced. Not too fast, not too slow. What really impresses me about it is how the author manages to balance between plot and world-building almost perfectly. And the world-building is amazing. It's clear that the author is very interested in the Slavic mythology that the book is based on, and it makes it hard for the reader not to be sucked into the world and mythology. It's also incredibly well-written. Vivid and imaginative, it makes the city and the magic come alive. It makes it easy to get lost in the book.
I also have to mention something about all the diversity in this book. For one, it was very refreshing to read about a character who is questioning her sexuality. I'm all for books about proud gays and lesbians, but I also need the questioning characters. And Wiki's and Artur's struggles are so very relatable. There's also mental health representation in the form of eating disorders and anxiety, and it's incredibly well-written and relatable. This is exactly the kind of diversity I want - need - to see more of in YA literature.
Honestly, I could go on forever about how amazing this book is, but I'm going to stop myself here. Little Black Bird has everything I want in a YA Fantasy; characters that you can't help but love, lots of magic, and diversity. It takes some popular tropes and turns them into something fresh and new, and uses a fairly unknown mythology to build an irresistible world. I can't wait to dive deeper into it!
The characters were the highlight of this story. I mean, the mythology is so interesting, the plot is very well-paced, and there are so many great things about this book, but the characters are just special. Wiki is so easy to relate to and impossible not to like, and Artur... you guys, Artur is just the sweetest guy on the planet. I want to be best friends with him. But seriously, these characters are so incredibly well-written and they truly pop off the page, they feel so real.
The plot is very well-paced. Not too fast, not too slow. What really impresses me about it is how the author manages to balance between plot and world-building almost perfectly. And the world-building is amazing. It's clear that the author is very interested in the Slavic mythology that the book is based on, and it makes it hard for the reader not to be sucked into the world and mythology. It's also incredibly well-written. Vivid and imaginative, it makes the city and the magic come alive. It makes it easy to get lost in the book.
I also have to mention something about all the diversity in this book. For one, it was very refreshing to read about a character who is questioning her sexuality. I'm all for books about proud gays and lesbians, but I also need the questioning characters. And Wiki's and Artur's struggles are so very relatable. There's also mental health representation in the form of eating disorders and anxiety, and it's incredibly well-written and relatable. This is exactly the kind of diversity I want - need - to see more of in YA literature.
Honestly, I could go on forever about how amazing this book is, but I'm going to stop myself here. Little Black Bird has everything I want in a YA Fantasy; characters that you can't help but love, lots of magic, and diversity. It takes some popular tropes and turns them into something fresh and new, and uses a fairly unknown mythology to build an irresistible world. I can't wait to dive deeper into it!
shadesofwind's review against another edition
4.0
There's so many good things about this book - Slavic mythology, wonderful characters, queer rep, beautiful setting.
The story follows Wiktoria, a telekinetic that can't control her powers, as she is introduced to a world of sorcerer's and Guardians and demons, all while trying to figure out who she is and what to do with a curse that's bound to forever change the magical world.
It's set in Poland. In a city I've been to. You have no idea how dumbly proud and happy I felt reading about places and situations so familiar. No googling, no searching my memory for a Netflix series I could use as reference for a setting, no shrugging "makes no sense but apparently Americans do THAT".
I liked plenty of characters, even our MC! (Mostly because she wasn't so fond of making completely dumb decisions) I liked how she was neither a Mary-Sue, nor a dumb cry-baby. Just a realistic person navigating all those crazy events as well as she can. Artur, Rafi, Karina, Laura and the others are such a squadgoals, I can't wait to see more of them. Especially them being a squad.
Their relationships were beautiful and messy, just like real life. It was probably the first time I've read about ace protagonists (yes, shame on me) and even though I've read posts and articles and definitions, this was so much different. I'm sure it will be wonderful for people to feel seen in these characters, and for others to understand these identities more. I feel like it was especially poignant seeing how lost the characters themselves are - good reminder that figuring things out takes time.
Slavic mythology was such an awesome part, magic and world's explanations woven seamlessly into the story.
It was action-packed, and the only thing that bugged me was that sometimes plot twists came so out of blue I was confused - they were happening before we even knew what's happening.
The plot is gripping, mysteries and secrets appearing one after the other, and even when most of them seem uncovered, many questions still remain. I am reaaaally looking forward to seeing how it develops. I feel like LBB was just a prelude to something way bigger, and that things are just beginning to unfold.
The story follows Wiktoria, a telekinetic that can't control her powers, as she is introduced to a world of sorcerer's and Guardians and demons, all while trying to figure out who she is and what to do with a curse that's bound to forever change the magical world.
It's set in Poland. In a city I've been to. You have no idea how dumbly proud and happy I felt reading about places and situations so familiar. No googling, no searching my memory for a Netflix series I could use as reference for a setting, no shrugging "makes no sense but apparently Americans do THAT".
I liked plenty of characters, even our MC! (Mostly because she wasn't so fond of making completely dumb decisions) I liked how she was neither a Mary-Sue, nor a dumb cry-baby. Just a realistic person navigating all those crazy events as well as she can. Artur, Rafi, Karina, Laura and the others are such a squadgoals, I can't wait to see more of them. Especially them being a squad.
Their relationships were beautiful and messy, just like real life. It was probably the first time I've read about ace protagonists (yes, shame on me) and even though I've read posts and articles and definitions, this was so much different. I'm sure it will be wonderful for people to feel seen in these characters, and for others to understand these identities more. I feel like it was especially poignant seeing how lost the characters themselves are - good reminder that figuring things out takes time.
Slavic mythology was such an awesome part, magic and world's explanations woven seamlessly into the story.
It was action-packed, and the only thing that bugged me was that sometimes plot twists came so out of blue I was confused - they were happening before we even knew what's happening.
The plot is gripping, mysteries and secrets appearing one after the other, and even when most of them seem uncovered, many questions still remain. I am reaaaally looking forward to seeing how it develops. I feel like LBB was just a prelude to something way bigger, and that things are just beginning to unfold.
laras_library's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first (fantasy) book I have read with ace rep (finally!!). Also the setting in Poland and use of Slavic mythology were great. I loved seeing Wiki interact with Artur as well as her relationship with her cousins Karina and Rafi. I am very excited to see how this series will continue.
mar's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
a fun fantasy book with LGBT characters set in your home country (where most authors would rather die than acknowledge gay people are real) and deeply rooted in local folklore is something that can be so personal,
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
bookworm_in_fabula's review against another edition
4.0
So many things to say, so little space...I loved this book!
I have to admit, at the beginning it was a little slow and I was afraid I wouldn't like Wiktoria as I wanted to, but then the plot started to pick up speed way faster than I anticipated and BAM, I was completely lost in it! The second half of the book particularly gave me no rest whatsoever, I couldn't put the book down!
The magic, the Slavic mythology, all the different demons...it was so interesting! The atmosphere and the descriptions capture you perfectly. (How many times can I say that I loved it...?)
The characters are all so unique, they all have their own voice and their own very distinct personality...and Rafi is the best one, no doubts on that!!! Zuzanna on the other hand...let's just say that I'm not particularly fond of her. Okay no, I hate her. Profoundly. She's a great antagonist, though!
(I'm still pondering about Tomasz, he gained some points towards the end, but still...pondering)
The aspect that I liked the most was the bond (magical and not) between the characters.
And I also appreciated the reminder that, even with everything going into chaos around her, Wiktoria still had to go to school. That was really a "chef kiss" touch, that made everything more believable!
Now, talking about the queer representation, it was perfectly done. It was the first time for me that I read an asexual rep, that made me REALLY understand what it means to be ace! Thanks Anna, you nailed it in the most wonderful way. It's not as easy as it may seems, to explain something so complex in a way that anyone could understand. Also, the fact that Wiktoria learned about all of it thanks to Tumblr and internet, instead of learning it in school, is sadly way too real...Chapter 36 made me cry (Rafi, my hero...), and chapter 42 made me cry EVEN MORE!
Lastly, talking about the ending (NO SPOILERS OBVIOUSLY), let me say, that very last page reversed everything worse than a freaking UNO card!!! I'm mad and desperate, and I need the sequel...!
I have to admit, at the beginning it was a little slow and I was afraid I wouldn't like Wiktoria as I wanted to, but then the plot started to pick up speed way faster than I anticipated and BAM, I was completely lost in it! The second half of the book particularly gave me no rest whatsoever, I couldn't put the book down!
The magic, the Slavic mythology, all the different demons...it was so interesting! The atmosphere and the descriptions capture you perfectly. (How many times can I say that I loved it...?)
The characters are all so unique, they all have their own voice and their own very distinct personality...and Rafi is the best one, no doubts on that!!! Zuzanna on the other hand...let's just say that I'm not particularly fond of her. Okay no, I hate her. Profoundly. She's a great antagonist, though!
(I'm still pondering about Tomasz, he gained some points towards the end, but still...pondering)
The aspect that I liked the most was the bond (magical and not) between the characters.
And I also appreciated the reminder that, even with everything going into chaos around her, Wiktoria still had to go to school. That was really a "chef kiss" touch, that made everything more believable!
Now, talking about the queer representation, it was perfectly done. It was the first time for me that I read an asexual rep, that made me REALLY understand what it means to be ace! Thanks Anna, you nailed it in the most wonderful way. It's not as easy as it may seems, to explain something so complex in a way that anyone could understand. Also, the fact that Wiktoria learned about all of it thanks to Tumblr and internet, instead of learning it in school, is sadly way too real...Chapter 36 made me cry (Rafi, my hero...), and chapter 42 made me cry EVEN MORE!
Lastly, talking about the ending (NO SPOILERS OBVIOUSLY), let me say, that very last page reversed everything worse than a freaking UNO card!!! I'm mad and desperate, and I need the sequel...!
memorable's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really well written book linking Slavic mythology and LGBTQIAP* topics. I really enjoyed it and all the different explanations really helped understand Slavic mythology as I’m basically a newbie to it.
I can’t wait to read the second book!
I can’t wait to read the second book!