A review by meelmeman
Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger

4.0

Maybe I’m enamored with the world building. Or it might be the deep deep resonance I found with the Asian influences. Or it could be the effortless GAYNESS of it all which we—speaking as a queer person—don’t get to see as often. Or perhaps it’s that this novel realized a fantasy I am so personally close to (yes, I want an animal familiar to pact with)—but regardless, this novel checks some many boxes for me. The comparisons to Avatar: The Last Airbender and Pokémon are not inaccurate, but I hope that draw doesn’t betray the complex and important ways in which the author explores colonialism, trauma, histories of violence and oppression, and forgiveness.

My 4 out of 5 rating is primarily positive, but there are some pieces to the book that feel gimmicky? And the pacing is a little funky... but all in all, the story is solid, interesting, and just fun.