This book had me right from the start.

I loved the world created here. The cultures are great. The characters are the best part in my opinion. Well, that and the magic system. I really loved the shade pacting.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I'm a big fan. I look forward to more by Paul Krueger, especially this series.

When I say this book is unlike any I've ever read, I really, really, really quite mean it.

In an alternate post-WWII Asian world, where people can pact with animals and elements ala Pokemon and Avatar: The Legend of Aang, respectively, four people from different countries (each with agendas contracting each other) are thrown into an adventure that delves deeper than what they imagine. Though to be fair, they're not that stupid but the possibility was too low and yet... there they are.

The worldbuilding was unique and intriguing and yet was able to remain straightforward. I guess it helped that it is real world, but still: it deviated from the typical (and gross) Asian stereotypes present in most books. I was surprised to learn that Paul Krueger has one other published book under his belt- quite surprised to be honest. It's not a flaw, but usually for people to achieve this kind of worldbuilding, they have to be under so much weight of critics and experience but here we are.

I'm only sad that this book seems underrated, and maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, people don't know what they are missing.

Very much enjoyed this book. I felt the world building was very fleshed out as well as the characters. I enjoyed learning about the magic and pacting in this world.

An interesting start...

There are some who will absolutely love this fantasy. Sadly, I am not one of them. And while I appreciate the tribute to the multitudes of Asian culture, something felt missing to me.

Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger
Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger is a standalone Asian-inspired epic fantasy with ever-present but well-conceived worldbuilding. It is also a rare commodity: a 500+ page pageturner. If any of these things appeal to you, you’ll definitely want to pick this up.

What is Steel Crow Saga About?
Paul Krueger - Steel Crow SagaSteel Crow Saga follows four characters. Lee is a thief who starts the book on the way to the executioner after a betrayal. Fortuitously, Xiulan, detective and 28th princess of Shang, sees potential in her. Xiulan recruits Lee to help her find the crown prince of Tomoda, so Xiulan can gain favor from her father. Jimuro is the young crown prince of the fallen Tomoda empire, returning home after imprisonment in Sanbuna. Tala is a Sanbuna soldier who lost everything to the Tomoda empire, charged with protecting Jimuro. Jimuro and Tala’s journey suddenly becomes a lot harder than they expect when a mysterious figure attacks. This book has a lot of twists and turns, along with a lot of action.

The elevator pitch for this book is Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Pokemon. If you’ve seen Avatar: The Last Airbender (not the movie! never the movie!), its influence is obvious in a facile sort of way from the above description (heir tries to get human prize to gain favor). Shang and Sanbuna people traditionally pact with animals, where the pactmaker asks what they can do for their new partner. If the two sides agree, this process turns the animal into a “shade” and makes them stronger than they would naturally be. After they pact, the pair try to be the very best (in combat and other pursuits). As a reader, this is very cool.

Tomodans believe this practice to be horrendous; they see the shades as slaves unable to consent to shadepacting. They are not without entirely without magic; Tomodans are able to metalpact (like steelbending, which influences the world in interesting ways). Their need for steel fueled their empire. Gee, I wonder if the impact of empires is relevant here…

Themes! Not Just for Eighth Grade Book Reports!
Even though they are written in two completely different styles, it would be interesting to pair The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow with Steel Crow Saga. Both books are virulently anti-colonialist (both books are also part of the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers program). The former (which I reviewed earlier this month) is fairly allegorical: it does not literally depict a colonialist country committing wrongs. The latter is literal: Tomoda’s colonialist actions have harmed Tomoda and its colonies, whether Tomodans recognize it or not. The war that brought Tomoda down has not fixed things either; now Shang is the country closest to the top. Almost every scene is impacted by colonialism and the characters’ cultural differences. Xiulan and Jimuro need to learn how to make amends.

Cooperation is also a big theme in Steel Crow Saga. Apart from the shadepacting tradition described above, emphasis on the importance of teamwork can be seen in the character teams. Lee considers loyalty to herself more important than loyalty to others, including Xiulan. To succeed, Lee has to get comfortable with having a partner. Tala hates Jimuro and Jimuro thinks that Tala is barbaric, but adversity forces them into a team. If they don’t work together, it’s likely one or the other won’t survive. Steel Crow Saga believes that solutions are found through peaceful cooperation.

Conclusion: Steel Crow Saga Is Worth Your Time
I really enjoyed this book. Once I got about 30% through, I did not put my Kindle down, even though I had planned to stop and work on something else. What can I say? Long pageturners with strong themes are my aesthetic. If someone isn’t really an epic fantasy reader, they may find a good entry point in Steel Crow Saga. I hope Paul Krueger finds a story with which to return to this universe sometime soon.

I received this title from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Are you going to pick up Steel Crow Saga? Talk about it with us on social media!

Review posted 26 September 2019

Steel Crow Saga bounces between perspectives of four people as they deal with the aftermath of a revolution. Tala was a Sergeant in the revolution and is now tasked with returning the captive Iron Prince Jimuro to his home in Tomoda. Xiulan is determined to kidnap the prince and present him to her father, the emperor of Shang, to prove her worthiness to inherit the throne. She enlists the help of Lee, a Jeongsonese girl who has been stealing to make ends meet since she was a child. All four learn about themselves and each other as their stories ravel together into one narrative.

The magic system Krueger created for this world is unique. All of the magics are derived from the soul. The people of Shang and Sanbuna are able to bind their souls with the soul of an animal, giving them a partner that is stronger than the original animal. The Tomodanese are able to bind their soul with metal, allowing them to sharpen swords, heat metal, and run cars with a thought. The people of Dahal are able to wield the energy in their souls to create bolts to use as weapons and healing energy as well. Krueger expertly shows the differences in these cultures and how they all interact in the aftermath of a war. His characters undergo change throughout the book, they learn and grow and become better. The story had me on the edge of my seat many many times, biting my nails and wondering how they would make it out of their dire situation. This was a very good read and though it is over 500 pages long it is well worth the read. I loved every moment of it.

General Tala was devastated by the war waged between the different kingdoms. Her homeland of Sanbuna included rituals to pact with animals, but she had gone over and above the usual shadepact prior to the war's end. Iron Prince Jimuro is all that's left of the Tomoda royal family and has to be escorted back to his homeland to be crowned the Iron Lord. There are factions within the Tomodanese that want to see Tomoda rule supreme again. In the meantime, Princess Xiulan of Shang had become a Li-Quan inspector and brought the Jeongsonese thief Lee in to help her track down the elusive Prince Jimuro in the hopes that she could present him to her father and become the heir of Shang.

Steel Crow Saga was described as "a sophisticated twist on Pokémon meets Avatar: The Last Airbender," and it's clear to see why. The animals bonded to people that can be called on at will are like the Pokémo, while having four nations of differing Asian influences is like the beloved cartoon. However, there are plenty of politics involved as well, with shifting loyalties, different sexualities, and even a transgender character. A lot of time is spent weaving the histories of the nations and the characters together, and it's seamlessly done. Nothing feels like a terrible info dump because it's relayed little by little, and as we switch between different points of view. That's how we learn about the food, the tonal languages, the customs and the microcustoms of different classes, the novels that characters read and the types of places where people lived. It's a wonderful and fascinating way to really drink in the history in the book and feel truly part of it, as well as getting us to bond with the main characters whose stories we're following.

There is action, gunplay, shifting loyalties and traveling through various parts of different kingdoms in order to get Prince Jimuro back to Harada, the capital of his homeland, to be crowned the Iron Lord. Along the way, we learn a lot about our four main characters, their histories, their relationships to each other, and really get to know the world of this book. I grew to love it, and it almost hurt to read the very last page, because there wasn't more to this novel.

I was given a chance by Penguin Random House and NetGalley to read this book early. It was a deeply engaging and enjoyable ride from the very first page. The authorial voice is both excellent and exciting which enhances the superb world building. But the world, although lushly described, is only the beginning. What will really captivate you are the amazing characters, each with their own distinct narrative voices. Not to mention that the magic system is quite unique and very entertaining to read about. If you're looking for a fantasy book set in an Asian inspired world with an all Asian cast and a battery of queer main and side characters that is extremely well written, then I suggest you pick up this book.

Exciting, suspenseful and kept me interested.. Character development was well done. A very good book.

I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
This was a great book !
For Tala + Jimuro + Xiulan + Lee, each has their own demons.
For this book, we delve into their world and their common purpose.
They should have been enemies, but a greater good will band them together.
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
I can't wait for the next book in this series.

4.5 stars

Balancing Revolution And Oppression With Wit, And An Inspired Magic System, Paul Krueger's Steel Crow Saga Hits Shelves Today

I worry sometimes that authors will run out of ideas for magic systems. I enjoy them so much that I worry the day will come when they will start blending together or authors won't be able to flesh them out as they should for reader buy-in. 

Then I look back on four books I read from July through September and I realize that I should stop worrying. Ok. One of those books wasn't published during that time frame. However, the other three were.



The Written by Ben Galley was published in July of 2010

Spell books tattooed to a mage's back and dragon powers bound to Tear Books 
The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen was published in July of 2019

Varying avian teeth cast different spells by rare witch doctors
There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool was published in September of 2019

Graced- of Heart, of Blood, of Mind and of Sight
Storm Crow Saga by Paul Krueger is out today- September 24th, 2019

Pacting:
Utilized differently by each culture and also brings an element of oppression.
Both Storm Crow Saga and Merciful Crow utilize their caste and magic system, respectfully, to address themes of oppression and justice. 
The people of Sanbuna and Shang pact with the souls of animals. This allows them to beckon them to fight with them as needed.
The people of Dahal pact intrinsically, strengthening their personal aptitudes
The people of Tomoda pact with metal and power their vehicles.
Now, here is where the ability to, or not to, wield magic allows for cultural oppression. The Jeongsonese are gifted with magic the same as everyone else but they are kept from gaining the knowledge to fully utilize it.


I'm sure you are wondering by now, what the hell is she doing? 

I started with the explanation of these different magic systems for a simple reason. I wasn't sure where else to start reviewing Steel Crow Saga and if I didn't figure it out? This was going to become a very simple review. It would be the synopsis and then just #readthebook.

Literally. That was all I had. So, I had to find a place to root the review. And then it dawned on me. Based on what I read this summer? And really if I thought about it? My concerns over authors running out of inspired magic systems that are fully imagined and engrained in the story, is simply not happening. And right there were four shining examples, off the bat. One of them being Steel Crow Saga.

If you want to argue that The Written came out nine years ago? Well you have Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom since then, yes? Gilded Wolves last year and its sequel, Silvered Serpents coming in February.

And if I keep thinking? I could keep going. There is For a Muse of Fire (Kingdom for a Stage is a couple weeks away) and here's a hint. Put your money on Angel Mage by Garth Nix, which comes out on October 1st.

BUT!

Now that I found my running start the magic system is engrained and intrinsically important to the storyline in Steel Crow Saga. It gives vital pieces of behind-the-scenes information that speaks to motivation of nations.

Krueger divulges it in a way that doesn't tell the reader what to do with that information. Instead, we are left to draw our own conclusion. Who is good and evil, who you root for or against, is left up to us, for the most part.

Having multiple points of views adds to the layers and dimensions of the individuals within nations. Each character is unique in voice as demonstrated through both dialogue and the narration in each respective chapter. Between these two pieces we have a multi-layered look of both the whole and the pieces that make up the whole. 

The only drawback of this approach is that the story and pacing can get drawn out at times. However, coming from me, take that with a grain of salt. I have diagnosed ADD and sometimes struggle with adult sci-fi/fantasy for this reason. With that being said, on this point YMMV. 

On the other side of that coin, if I hadn't been completely immersed in the storyline and the characters? And if it was too long without any action? I wouldn't have made it, but by the time those denser parts of the story evolved, and the pacing slowed down? There was more than enough emotional investment to keep me going. So, I highly doubt someone who doesn't have my penchant for distraction and brain fog would barrel through.

The journey each character goes on and how they change over time intertwines well with the plot. Both serve each other well and push each other forward. Too often you will find a clash when the plot is used as a device for character growth or characters are put into situations to spur the plot forward. Krueger doesn't fall into that trap. The two work in tandem together.

What I truly didn't expect and what I would imagine to be near impossible, Krueger pulls off with complete finesse. There are such heave themes of oppression, revolution and colonialism that it would be impossible to imagine any amount of lightness. But it does. And now, I couldn't imagine Steel Crow Saga without it. 

Krueger manages to strike a balance between themes of enormous gravity with quick witted banter and humorous narration that you just don't see coming. It is never insulting to the importance of the plot or out of place. Instead it provides a reprieve and sense of hope. I want to say it is akin to the humor you would find in Star Wars.

I know there are many other comparisons out there, but I don't have any context for ANY of them, unfortunately. When I think of revolution, sci-fi and humor that works- there is Star Wars. It is at times very serious with very deep social constructs and then at times unexpectedly but fittingly hysterical. Steel Crow Saga strikes that same balance.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Instant pre-order. I haven't been wrecked like this by a book in a LONG TIME. the characters were the best part--they are brought to life by absolutely beautiful writing and so different that when they come together in pairs or larger groups, it's amazing to see all the different reasons they do what they do and how they get along (or don't).

The world and magic system are stunning. I wanted to get lost in the world for hours. I loved seeing some outside influences without feeling overwhelmed. Everything still felt original. I'm actually mad that I've had another of Krueger's books on my kindle list and I haven't read it yet. I could have been treated to this amazing writing before?!

Paul Krueger is an auto-buy for me now and forever.

This book was fantastic. I can't rave about it highly enough. I was lucky enough to pick up a copy at Denver Pop Culture Con this year and get approved for a NetGalley, and I absolutely loved it! The book is filled with moments that get you excited to continue on. I didn't think I'd be so impressed with a giant rat, or a box of mushrooms, but believe me when I tell you this book had me laughing, crying, and getting really worried about my favorite characters as the pages turned. I'm a big fan of Manga and Anime, and I think that really put this book over the top for me because I could (and would LOVE) to see it as an anime in the future. It's got it all, the tough military type, the reluctant ruler, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, and the awkward but fantastic wannabe detective. I just couldn't stop reading it, and have already recommended it to my friends, book club, and random strangers. It's worth picking up a copy! You won't regret it! I loved it, and my boyfriend loved it, it appeals to all readers and it's got amazing representation of cultures and sexuality. It's fantastic and just want we need right now! Go read it!

Krueger has craft a wonderful, fun adventure of a book. It's clear the story draws a lot of influences from anime, and while that's not what drew me to it, it definitely will appeal to fans of that genre!

He handles the four point of view characters well, each have distinct voices, goals, and challenges. I think of them all, Tala--the military veteran, transporting an exiled prince on one last mission--was my favorite.

The story starts out a bit slow (made slower by the switch off between POVs--when we return to a character, no time has passed since we last saw them), but once all the plot threads intersect, things get moving.

As with Krueger's first book, STEEL CROW SAGA will appeal to adult readers, but also has strong crossover appeal.

I have never read a book like this one before and I love when I find kidding gems in netgalley for request.

This was a interesting book, there were parts that I liked and other part that kind bored me but not enough to DNF.

There is four main characters in this book and they were all likeable (thank God), the world building was better than I was expecting and there were a lot of unexpected moments.

But there were parts that were so slow paced (that part that bored me, like I have said before, but not enough for me to DNF the book).
And this book is bog and I didn't felt like it need it to be that long.

But, overall, this was a cool read that I recommend if you have read the synopsis and it seems interesting for you.

3.5/5 ⭐️

to summarize this book would be doing it an injustice but i'm going to try my best. at the very least, it's pokemon with way higher stakes, but that doesn't seem to cover it either. everything about this book was just so incredibly interesting and vivid and i'm so happy i was lucky enough to read it early.

the alternating points of view was what i enjoyed the most, i think. sometimes when the pov's alternate, the reader can be left with not enough information of one of the characters and that just wasn't the case here. i felt as if you got so much from all 4 of the main characters and by the end of the novel, are rooting for all of them. you learn so much about them throughout the book and i couldn't even pick a favorite if i wanted to. none of the characters are perfect–they are realistic representations of the human experience inserted into a fantasy world that i believe you will find is very similar to our own. it's clear that the author is modeling the world he created after the real world. that being said, it wasn't to the point where i felt like the author could have forgone the fantasy world and just kept ours instead.

the magic system is the best. i was immediately drawn into it and thought i knew everything but it just keeps growing as the novel progresses which i loved. the shades were my favorite and made me want my own tbh. i'm so interested to see what happens in the next book involving the characters who have more than one ability, which was previously thought to be impossible. i can't wait to see how that evolves and what the consequences of those abilities are.

truly this book isn't going to be everyone's favorite. it's long and the new world might not capture everyone or it might be confusing, but i really think everyone needs to give it a chance and i think you'll find that you might love it like i did!

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for sending me an e-galley of this book!

Steel Crow Saga is boasted as Pokemon meets The Last Airbender which is the reason why I requested it. I'm a fairly big Pokemon fan and I do like The Last Airbender, but haven't finished the series.

The dialogue is sharp and the story is fully fleshed out and realized, but I found myself increasingly bored by the lengthy descriptions and short bursts of action. I kept pushing through and waiting for the story to catch me, but it just didn't seem to. It's not a terrible book by any means and I can see why someone would enjoy it. It's raw and gritty and includes a rich history with a pretty great f/f pairing if you ask me. It just missed the mark with me personally.

I decided to give the book 3 Stars because my disinterest has nothing to do with the writing or the book itself just my personal preferences and grievances with some of the choices taken.

Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger is a tour de force of character development. This novel will make you fall in love with the characters Krueger has crafted and make you ache for them as they learn how their world is changing and how that necessitates that they themselves become different. All of this is set against a beautifully imagined Asian-inspired secondary world.

Steel Crow Saga is set in a secondary world with technology similar to our own, though before cell phones or the internet. We have references to television shows, we see automobiles, highways, and firearms. But all of this is integrated so well with the magic system that everything feels natural and real. Speaking of the magic, it’s another thing that shines in Krueger’s novel. It reminds me a little of the magic system in Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series, but with a much more contemporary vibe, and also significantly more complexity once we see magic beyond shadepacting. Actually, that’s one of the especially fun things about the magic, each culture has a different take on magic, though each of these ways of doing magic feel similar enough that it makes sense they are all part of the same world. That’s a difficult balance to strike, and Krueger manages it perfectly. As fun as the setting and magic are, what sets this novel above so many others is the strength of the characters. Tala is a soldier bent on revenge who is tasked with protecting the man who represents everything she has grown to hate. Jimuro is a prince whose country is in ruins, having paid the price for their own arrogance and expansionism years earlier. He doesn’t know if he’ll measure up to his ancestors. Xiulan desires a different world, but she still holds many deep-seated hatreds. Lee is a criminal who has learned never to trust, and yet she finds herself in situations where trust might be the only way forward. There is a moment, about a third of the way in, where an important event happens that just gripped me and from that point on the characters refused to let go. That’s the thing about this novel, the characters really grow on you. By a third of the way in I was engaged, by the half way point I was loving it, and by the final third of the book the characters are just wonderful. Memorable, real, making plenty of mistakes but learning from them and in doing so learning a great deal about themselves and having to confront the reality of their world and their place in it. Krueger has managed to build a story that transforms the four viewpoint characters slowly, bit by bit, right before your eyes. The read is incredibly satisfying because of that character development. That development isn’t only surface level, by the way. We’re talking about deep seated fears and prejudices. It’s a truly impressive bit of art that Krueger has given us. One might argue that the book is, at some level, about the hatred that is bred over years of wrong treatment, pain, and racism on all sides. It’s heartrending, and yet it feels like this is exactly the sort of story we need to read if we’re ever to understand ourselves and those who are other to us.

I don’t have much to criticize in Steel Crow Saga. It’s fair to say that the book has a slow start. The first quarter or so feels particularly slow. But I can’t be overly critical of this, because I see what Krueger is doing. He’s building up these characters. He’s giving us something special, and that requires that things be built up bit by bit. For those who abhor or have no patience with slow starts, this may be a difficult book. Beyond the slow start, there isn’t much to criticize at all.

The character development in Steel Crow Saga is nothing short of masterful. The slower start is absolutely worth it because of what the author is building. Fans of character stories and Asian-inspired settings will find a plethora of elements to enjoy, but all fantasy fans will find an authentic world with characters who overcome achingly real struggles.

9/10

Steel Crow Saga is the first novel in a series of the same name by Paul Krueger, and it’s as intense as it is brilliant. If you’re looking for a new fantasy series to get into, consider giving this one a try. It’s full of character driven plots, a magical world, and so much more.
In a world torn apart by battle, four characters must come together to find a way to forge a new path. By doing so, they hope to prevent the circle of pain and bloodshed from continuing. But the journey will be anything but easy.
Steel Crow Saga takes four characters, all of whom a very different from one another, and by rights all should hate the others, and forces them to do the unbelievable. This novel is an amazing fantasy novel, but it’s the characters who make this tale sing.

Tala is a soldier through and through. She lives for the battles, and will do whatever it takes to take vengeance for her lost family. She and her animal companion Beaky have a dark secret, one that colors every aspect of her life. And her life is forever changed when she is forced to guard a prince that is not her own.
Jimuro is the prince of Steel – and he’s bound to step up and lead his people. Unfortunately, he’s currently a prisoner in another nation. In other to bring the peace though, he’s allowed free and sent off with a military escort. Only, the whole trip doesn’t go as planned. On the bright side, the change in course has given him plenty of time to learn the truth about the world around him.
Lee is a thief, plain and simple. She’s smart as a whip, and even more determined to survive. She’s one of the last of her kind – a people constantly stepped on by those who consider themselves better. But she won’t let their outlook on her life change her plans for the future.
Xiulan is a woman with many identities. Her preferred one is a detective, which is how she ends up with a master class thief. She hopes that Lee will help her find the person she is looking for, and start a change for the better.

I’ve been hearing nothing but positive things about Steel Crow Saga, and now, having read it, I completely understand why. It was emotional and dramatic, and had such a brilliant display of worldbuilding within.
There was a lot to love about this book, simply put. The characters, the world, the magical systems, the politics. It was all well thought out and brilliant in its intensity. I did my best to stretch out reading this book as much as possible. But I’m still left anxious to get my hands on the next novel in the series.
I think what I loved the most about Steel Crow Saga was the variety of characters. Tala, Jimuro, Lee, and Xiulan were all so different from one another. And yet, they all had a stake in this tale. It was fascinating to see them all work together, and better yet; the variety will allow for most readers to pick a favorite character or two to really look forward to reading about.
I’m fascinated by the magical system within this world. We got a good look at shades (the animal companions), and a bit of a look at the steel magic. But I still have so many questions – and I’m sure that the future novels will answer them. I just have to be patient.
I was surprised by how much emotion Steel Crow Saga was able to force out of me. It was excellently done. The characters were compelling, the plot was thrilling, and the world filled with lush details. And each character’s backstory was refined and honed to force readers to sympathize with their perspectives.
I’m actually quite sad to be finished with Steel Crow Saga. I might have to reread it again, while I wait for news about the sequels. I tried starting another book, but the book hangover from this one is too strong for that just yet.

I LOVED Krueger's first title!! It was one of my favs but this one unfortunately was not. The cover was pretty and was what caught my attention. This one started off really good but as the story went on it almost felt like the author lost interest in the story itself. For me I just got bored. Sadly a lot of this title was bogged down with things we just didn't need. I think that played a large part in me getting bored with the story. The four POVs just didn't mesh well for either. I felt like if it would have been less it would have worked out a little better as well. This just seemed like a mess.