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.

I felt like I was dropped into a world that I didn’t really understand. Also, I didn’t feel for any of the characters. It felt more like an outline than a finished book.

it's fine. things happened too fast and it would have benefited from being a full novel, rather than an abridged one.

An urban fantasy based on Slavic folklore, need I say more?
What I loved
Novella, a quick fun read
Slavic folklore in modern Chicago
Urban fantasy
Easily got lost in this interesting world
The flawed characters
Found family

Short and beautiful. More diversity with folklore is needed and appreciated. Thank you to NetGally and publisher for the copy.

I went into this one blind, only know that VR wrote it and i am so glad i did. this book is best read that way! the folklore and creatures were so unique and interesting. what an amazing world

A fast and fascinating read! I loved the Polish folklore aspect, so many interesting things I didn't know yet- some similar to other mythologies, some different. A quick story that keeps you engaged until the end!

I loved learning more about Slavic folklore, but I wasn't really invested in the actual storyline. Some of the banter was also entertaining though!

I'm mostly just shocked at what Roth managed to do in less than 200 pages.

One of the most delightful aspects of this novella is its setting. As a Chicagoan, I was thrilled by the nods to local places and the authentic portrayal of the city’s Polish community. This detail adds a layer of authenticity and charm, making the story feel like a love letter to Chicago itself. Roth masterfully integrates the city's essence into the narrative, creating a modern fairytale that feels both unique and familiar. Despite its brevity, this novella has incredibly rich world-building. The depiction of Slavic myths and folklore is both respectful and imaginative.

I think the characters are amazingly complex with great arcs despite the limited length. The initial bond between these characters, built on necessity and mutual mistrust, evolves beautifully into a partnership that resonates with themes of found family and belonging. While I loved the novella, I found myself yearning for more. The world Roth has created is so compelling that it begs for a longer exploration, possibly a series.

The audiobook version is particularly noteworthy, with the narrator bringing the characters and story to life with distinct voices and emotional nuance. However, the ALC I listened to had some repeated parts at the end, which was a minor hiccup in an otherwise excellent experience.

Thanks to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.

this is such a short read, and i honestly think that’s its one downfall!! the characters and the magic system and the plot twists are all interesting and well-executed, but i so wish there was MORE of it. it took me about 100 pages to get into the book and by then it was almost over 😅 i liked it a lot more by the end than i thought i was going to in that middle point, and i was intrigued enough about one of the twists to go back to the beginning and look for some hints about it, so like, all in all, a solid book - just definitely a shorter one.