I love Veronica Roth books, and this is no exception. This was so immersive. The folklore, and characters were so gripping. I couldn't put this down.

This book will be reviewed and featured on my instagram account : @emily_reads_everything. In addition, my goodreads account will have a starred rating, as well as one here. My GR account is linked in the profile of my instagram.

When Among Crows
Veronica Roth
2.75⭐️

Pub Date: 5/14/2024

Where do I start with this one? 🫣
This was supposed to be right up my alley. It's urban fantasy with Polish/Slavik folklore, set in modern America. Plot/storyline overall is fascinating and had so much potential but the writing style didn't really grip me. It's very slow. It talks about curses, suffering, self redemption and relationship between the unlikely trio. I got the main gist down however this novella is just a mix of mundane, and just some interesting details. It was very hard to get into and I came close to DNF-ing. The character development, I think, is subpar. None of them were very likeable probably because of how they were written. They travelled together in hunt of someone, with Dymitr having a secret mission and the supposed "monsters" did things that were completely unexpected to Dymitr who should've been their enemy. That made me keep going. Things picked up at around 70% of the book. There were conflict and sacrifices, some emotional details but no real climax really. I didn't realize how short this one was. 166 pages and it took me FOREVER to read it - a week and change? And it also unfortunately placed me in a really bad slump. Overall, I get the appeal of this book but it just wasn't for me.

I was sucked in by the beautiful cover and the premise, but was left wishing there was more to this book. Veronica Roth mixes together a world of urban fantasy that’s rich with diversity. When Among Crows is a unique take on the character Baba Yaga. I was pleasantly surprised because it’s not often you get books with Slavic influence. This book has a truly interesting cast of characters, and rapid paced storytelling. It’s a novella, so there’s not much time for world building or explaining the magic system. As a result, I was left feeling a little unconnected from the story, BUT it was easy to fly through! We’re given just enough information to get through the book, and for some people that’s plenty. I personally needed a little bit more in order to fully enjoy the novella. That being said, it’s still worth the read.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the copy of this eARC. Although it wasn’t exactly for me I know that lots of people will enjoy this book.

I'm a big fan of Veronica Roth, but sometimes I have trouble connecting with her novellas. That wasn't the case for When Among Crows. I love Polish mythology, and I liked how Roth wove legends into the modern-day setting. This read almost like a fairy tale, despite its modernity. I think it functions very well as a standalone, but I would love for her to write a sequel or companion in this world.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.

From the very beginning, I was fully engrossed in this book. The melding of Slavic mythology and modern day Chicago presented an opportunity to learn about stories and character types that were new to me in a fresh and exciting way.

Veronica Roth created such rich characters that felt grounded in reality even though they were completely fantastical.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the opportunity to read this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

When Among Crows was the perfect length, which I definitely appreciate in a world where it seems that most fantasy is at least 400 pages long. I liked that the story was succinct and didn't add anything in that wasn't necessary to the main plot.

I really liked the main character, Dymitr, his journey throughout the novella unravels at a good pace and there are just enough secrets to keep the reader engaged.

I'll definitely suggest this title to those who enjoy urban fantasy and stories steeped in folklore.

Overall, When Among Crows is a quick read with some good characters. Dymitr is a puzzle to figure out, and Ala is a shining light of purity. I really loved her. Niko is a good guy in a tough spot. He never asked for his role in life, and he just makes the best of it. Although honestly, none of the main characters asked for their roles in life, and they’re all trying to come to terms with who they were, who they are, and who they want to be. The fact that they keep trying to be more than what the world has labeled them is inspiring.

Even though there’s a lot of gore in Veronica Roth’s story, I really enjoyed it and I think that others will find hope and inspiration in this dark tale of redemption too.

full review at link https://thecosmiccircus.com/book-review-when-among-crows-by-veronica-roth/

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC!

This is an incredible story. At just under 180 pages, it's not a lengthy one, but it doesn't need to be. Based around Eastern European mythologies and magic - that frankly, we don't hear enough about in the USA - with a tale of a man looking to right a wrong... working with people who aren't exactly human to get to the end he wants. There's so much I can't say in order to not spoil any of this beautiful story, so I'll just say this - read it. You won't regret the time spent. I've recommended this to everyone I know that enjoys modern magical fantasy.

I wanted more!!!!

I love when people make traditional folklore and mythology into something that feels new and original and this book does that EXCEPTIONALLY. The tale of Baba Jaga has always been a siren song for me, but the haunting Slavic lore of the creatures that go bump in the night alongside her is just perfectly flipped and expanded upon in When Among Crows. The setting feels old and rich, regardless of the wild juxtaposition of its present-day setting and dystopian undertones. Somehow, it reads like a fable that's been transported through time and space to modern society. Plot twists, a beautifully authentic found family, and an abundance of moral ambiguity captured my attention and I downed this in three to four hours flat.

My only gripe with this book is that I wanted more meat from it. There weren't enough words for the intricacies Roth crafted here and it easily could have been twice as long for more emotional impact. Hopefully there will be more because this novella was not enough. I'll be hunting for this feeling for DAYS.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book. The synopsis for this story was so intriguing and drew me in. However, i feel that it would have benefited from being a full length novel rather than a short form story. There were great elements that just didnt come all the way together and hold my interest unfortunately. Its not terrible, but had potential to be much more.

Novellas are so hit and miss for me.

I wanted MORE. I love the writing of Veronica Roth, some of my favorite reads are from this author.

I was highly excited for this novella, but it was not my fave. It may have worked better as a full length novel.

Veronica Roth has an amazing skill for writing novellas. In just five short hours, I was swept up in a detailed urban fantasy. I sincerely hope she writes more in this universe!

One star deducted for pacing. The beginning was incredible, but the ending felt rushed.

When Among Crows introduces us to old magic in a new way. I took my time with this one and enjoyed every minute of it. I will definitely be reading more Veronica Roth.

I went into this story completely blind and I was a little confused at first. It started off really well though, however it lost me a little bit in the middle, then picked back up! This is not something I would normally read, but I’m actually really excited that I did. This ended up being so much better than I thought it would be. Took me a second to figure out what all the creatures and monsters actually were since it’s Polish, thankfully I read this on my kindle so it gave me the definitions! Overall if you like folklore or even just an interesting unique fantasy this is for you!

I've always been impressed with the way Veronica Roth writes scenes, she says so much and creates such a feeling of tension and danger while not wasting any words. I was very impressed with this little novella based on Slavic folklore.

Parts were haunting and others were emotional, the whole story is tinged with sadness and regret. I loved it.

A 5 stars read from Veronica Roth? Who knew! In this urban fantasy novel full of supernatural creatures straight from Polish folklore a mysterious man on a quest to track down Baba Jaga teams up with a zmora and a strygzon. But what is he hiding? And what will they all sacrifice to find the peace they're searching for? This is one where you shouldn't read the synopsis first; just go straight into it. The reveals along the way are half the fun.

What a fantastic novella! I wished for so much more--but in a really good way. The prose, characters, and world were so fascinating and pulled me in.

More, please. I wish this book was twice as long. I wanted to hear more from everyone involved, please and thank you. The world building was enticing, the characters well realized, and the magic just my favorite flavor.

4.5 rounded to 5
This book was definitely fun. I really liked how they added fantasy aspects to read world Chicago, with monsters and magic. I really loved how the monsters fed of different negative emotions (fear, anger, anxiety, etc). I do wish it was a full novel, it would have been a lot more fun. The narration was great and really added a lot of depth to the story. I am always thankful for audiobooks in fantasy books to help with pronunciation lol. Definitely need to read more of Veronica Roth’s backlist.