I really enjoyed this book. This was my first book by this author since the Divergent series and I greatly enjoyed it!

When Among Crows is short, but it is anything but small.

Veronica Roth delivers a rich, eerie novella rooted in Polish mythology, packed with atmosphere, and brimming with the kind of quiet intensity that lingers long after the last page. It's fast-paced, gritty, and poetic — a story that walks the line between fantasy and horror with skill.

We follow a trio of reluctant allies as they face down supernatural threats that are more than just monsters — they’re tied to trauma, grief, and guilt. The characters feel fully formed despite the limited page count, and their interactions are layered with tension and reluctant vulnerability. I especially loved the blend of real-world Chicago with old-world myth; it felt grounded and modern while still carrying the weight of folklore.

Veronica Roth's When Among Crows (Curse Bearer, #1) steps into a world of fantasy that, while intriguing, doesn't quite soar to the heights one might hope for. Nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Readers' Favorite Fantasy in 2024, it certainly has its moments, but ultimately lands as a decent read rather than a truly captivating one, earning a solid 3 out of 5 stars.

The premise itself is pretty cool, as Roth often delivers. There's a clear effort to build a unique world with its own set of rules and lore, and for the most part, it's engaging enough to keep you turning pages. The magic system or the central conflict feels well-thought-out, and you can see the potential for something really special.

However, where When Among Crows might fall a bit short is in its execution of character depth and pacing. While the main characters are introduced with interesting backstories, their emotional journeys don't always feel fully fleshed out. You might find yourself wishing for a deeper connection to their struggles and triumphs, as they sometimes feel like they're moving through the plot rather than truly experiencing it. This can make it a little hard to completely invest in their fates.

The pacing, too, can be a bit uneven. There are parts that are genuinely thrilling and pull you right in, but then there are stretches where the narrative seems to drag, getting bogged down in exposition or less impactful scenes. This can break the flow and make it a bit of a stop-and-go reading experience, preventing the story from building consistent momentum.

Ultimately, When Among Crows is a perfectly fine fantasy novel. It has a compelling world, some interesting ideas, and moments of excitement. But it doesn't quite hit that sweet spot of being unputdownable. It's the kind of book you'll probably enjoy if you're a fan of the genre or Roth's previous work, but it might not leave a lasting impression or make you desperate for the next installment. It's a solid start to a series, but with room for growth.

When Among Crows is such a cool, atmospheric little read—quick but so rich in feeling and folklore. I flew through it in one sitting.

Dymitr was definitely my favorite—he’s complicated and kind of quietly intense in a way I loved. And while Ala wasn’t my favorite, I really enjoyed her character—she’s sharp and layered, and her dynamic with Dymitr was so interesting to watch unfold.

The whole thing has this eerie, magical vibe without ever feeling over-the-top. It’s dark, a little sad, and somehow still really hopeful. And I’m very into the beginning of whatever’s going on between Dymitr and Niko.

Huge thanks to Tor for sending me this and the sequel—I’m diving into book two next and can’t wait.

OK, MS. ROTH! Still haven’t forgiven you for Four, but this did grab me and pull me right in. I love folklore retellings. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am working through my backlog, and will be momentarily posting reviews for the stories I have yet to get posted but have finished reading.

This modern fairytale captivated me from start to finish! This is a quick read but man does it pack a punch. I can't wait to read more from Veronica!

When Among Crows is a beautifully dark novella perfect for fans of supernatural folklore, morally gray characters, and fast-paced storytelling with emotional weight. If you love urban fantasy with a folkloric twist and an undercurrent of real-world pain, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.

When starting this book, I felt a little lost because the pace of the story moves so quickly, likely because it's a novella. Once I got used to that though, I couldn't put it down. Dymitr is a Knight of the Holy Order from a family of Knights, and his job is to kill creatures. But he realizes that the creatures he's meant to kill are not just monsters, they're people. This realization starts him on a journey to unmake himself in penance for the murders he's committed. He is looking for the most powerful witch, Baba Jaga. On his journey he meets and becomes close with many so-called monsters, but he is keeping secrets about the real reason for his quest. One of his new friends has been hurt by a generational curse that his family set into motion decades before, and she doesn't know that his bloodline is responsible. When he finally reaches Baba Jaga, he asks to be unmade as a Knight so that his soul can know peace, and she makes him into one of the "monsters" his family has hunted for generations. Ala and Niko help him along on his journey and are there to pick him up at the end of things. Dymitr is soft and gentle in a position where he's expected to be the archetype of masculine indifference, and that is what makes his character so compelling. He is so intensely HUMAN. He feels the weight of his sins, and genuinely cares to repent for them. I loved this book and have already recommended it to others. Dymitr will stay in my head for a long time.

Oh, I enjoyed this! Wasn’t sure what to expect, so it took me by surprise. Slavic folklore + urban fantasy was a cool mix. I was getting Ninth House + vampires vs. vampire hunter vibes~ish? I honestly could have used a full length novel! I’m always impressed with novellas that can captivate me in so few pages. I do have the e-ARC for book 2 so I’m excited for that. A great novella always makes me wish I had more than a novella 😩

In this urban fantasy, there are magical monsters, curses, and Slavic folklore. A mission to seek out the witch Baba Jaga turns into a night of mayhem and mishaps, as Dimytr and Ala work together to break a deadly curse and stay alive.

I loved learning about the creatures and legends, and the Polish community in Chicago. It was a little slow at times, but I liked the little snippets of their night of adventure and the backstories to their motivations for working together.

"When among crows, you must caw as they do"

I was surprised to find that it was a novella, The cover is beautiful and compelling.
Truthfully, I wish it was a full novel. I was captivated by it immediately and she really did put so much lore and feeling into such a small beautifully written package.
I definitely recommend for a great little read. Small book, large story.

"I want you to live," she says. "I want you to try."

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC.

What a gorgeous cover! This is my first by Veronica Roth since reading Divergent many years ago, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. This has some really lush lore inspired by Slavic folklore, but the story itself wasn't as gripping as I was hoping it to be.

This was fun and I loved the length. You still got to the know the characters a bit, who were all interesting, and the folklore made for a beauteous background.

This is a unique story that goes a lot of places and has some highly interesting characters. I usually love Veronica Roth, and she doesn't disappoint here. It's also fun to read a fantasy story that doesn't just use the usual suspects, but rather dives into Polish and Slavic lore/supernatural stories. It's got a creepy vibe at times, and a more fantastical vibe at other parts, but you never stop wanting to read and find out what happens next. I love the way it includes/twists the concept of family.

If you like dark fairytales, you'll almost certainly enjoy this.

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

Amazing as always. I loved all of the E. European folklore. Perfect for fans of Katherine Arden. Found family and healing generational trauma

The cover is absolutely gorgeous. I thought the concept was really great, but that a lot got lost in the execution and it lacked a bit in solid worldbuilding. I did enjoy it though.

I will be honest, I haven’t read a Veronica Roth book since Allegiant. I attempted to read Chosen Ones but didn’t get very far into it.

So when I saw a fantasy novella was coming out by her I was really really excited but I….unfortunately was incredibly bored by this.

The cover is gorgeous, Veronica’s writing has matured and grown from Allegiant into something magical and beautiful.

I simply could not find myself to fully grasp the worldbuilding, nor did I connect to the characters to care very much for their story.

I will say the prologue was very great in capturing the reader but the rest of the story did not deliver.

Sorry for the late review on this one!

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth was an intriguing read. The dark, atmospheric world Roth creates pulled me in, and I was hooked by the twists and turns in the plot. The characters’ complexity added depth to the story, though some parts felt a bit slow. Still, an engaging read!

Not bad but not that great... I wish I enjoyed this more and I did like the theme of urban fantasy but I was just not hooked into this