I really enjoyed In the Hour of Crows. The story's premise and characters caught by interest right from Chapter 1 and maintained it until the end. I thought the world building for the magical realism/fantasy elements in the tale were nicely handled, with information slowly filtering through the text as needed. Weatherly's development throughout the story was also beautifully told. I had thought I was going to experience a little shimmer of disappointment at the end, but then a fun twist in the final pages set things to right for me. Overall, I am giving this book 4.5 stars and I recommend it to fans of fantasy with a lighter touch but an occasional dark edge.

My review will go live on my blog (at the link provided below), Goodreads (link below) and social media on 3 June 2024.

A little Southern Gothic, a little supernatural, and a little Appalachian superstition, In the Hour of Crows is also a mystery.
Abandoned by her mother, and living with an unpleasant grandmother who is known as a "Granny Witch," Weatherly Wilder has an unusual childhood. Her family has a history as herbalists with strange gifts, and Weatherly's gift is as a death talker like her grandfather. Her cousin and best friend is a scryer. Are these gifts or curses? It depends.

Death talkers can often, but not always, talk to the dying and bring them back. There is a price to be paid for this-- the death talker inhales the death, creating Sin Eater Oil. Weatherly's been doing this since she was a child at the encouragement of her grandmother. Her grandmother is a cruel and controlling woman, but she needs Weatherly. Without Weatherly's skill and the death oil, the old woman becomes meaningless.

When a car hits Adair's bicycle killing her, Weatherly refuses to accept it as an accident. Adair "saw" something that bothered her, and Weatherly is convinced Adair's death was deliberate; she doesn't intend to let the wealthy Sloan Rutledge get away with it.

Family secrets are slow to be revealed, but Weatherly has every intention of discovering why Adair was targeted and to hell with the consequences.

I enjoyed the book, but felt that there were many loose ends that were not resolved involving Weatherly's mother, Rook, Gabby Newsome, the fact that everyone overlooks evidence of Adair's death, and the reason for the grandmother being in Stone Rutledge's office. A sense of incompleteness that bothers me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.

This book has all the qualities I look for in a good southern gothic: magical/paranormal elements, murder, and a pervading sense of doom. It is set in a small town in Appalachian Georgia, where superstition mixes with religion and the good ol’ boys rule. In Black Fern, Georgia, a family with certain peculiarities lives on the fringes of society, feared and reviled but still needed by people for their gifts. Weatherly’s family still abides by the old ways, and the town looks down on them for it, until they need them, that is. Until they need her.

There are some triggering topics like child abandonment, child abuse, mental illness, death and bias, but I appreciate how everything was resolved in the end. I liked Weatherly’s voice, sometimes acerbic and sarcastic, but she has a good heart and it shows. I was drawn into the story and kept guessing right up to the point that Elmendorf wanted me to be before showing me how everything would come together.

I was talking to my almost 13 year old about this because I think he’d really like it. He was very interested in the description of the family and their talents. That got me thinking of whether I would say this is appropriate for him and I think that it would be with the exception of Weatherly’s coping mechanism. I found the (on page but not graphic) sex scene with her and Billy to be superfluous to the story and could easily have been omitted.

I will say that I hope this gets another good pass through the editing process (maybe two) to fix various formatting issues and some weird turns of phrase that were a bit confusing and not at all how I think people actually speak. It was more like she started to say something one way, then re-wrote it another way without deleting everything she was replacing. A bit confounding to read at times.

Still, I really liked the mystery, the atmosphere, the characters, and the way everything came together in the end. If you enjoy southern gothic thrillers, give this one a read!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing!
Set in a small Appalachian town, Weatherly can’t seem to catch a break. She’s trying to solve the murder of a beloved family member, while dealing with a cantankerous grandmother who honestly only seems to be using her for her “gift”-or is it a curse? The town at large seems to be using Weatherly and her family as well, wanting them when their gifts are needed, and shunning them as evil when their need is over. I kept rooting for Weatherly to find love, companionship, and a place of her own in this book that mixes magic, family, and class conflict on many levels.

This imaginative Southern gothic narrative is very unusual with a unique premise. Weatherly Wilder has the unique gift of death talker. She can ingest the death from a person and later remove it as Sin Eater oil. Abandoned by her mother at an early age she was raised by her Grandma Agnes the local "granny witch" who rules her life with a firm hand. Her best friend and cousin Adaire, is a Scryer..one who can see the future in reflections. When Adaire sees something unsettling in her future she becomes distant and secreitive. When she is killed in a hit and run shortly after Weatherly suspects there is more to the story and determines to find the truth. Along the way she discovers truths about her family and heritage. The author does an excellent job of conveying the deeply rooted superstition and folklore of the Appalachian setting and builds a brooding, forboding atmosphere. Weatherly is an interesting protagonist filled with doubt about her future and her role in her community. A blend of murder mystery, urban fantasy and family sage this unrealistic story offers a tale out of our usual comfort zone With a cast of characters not all well developed and too many sub threads it can be a little confusing at times but overall a solid read.

Drawing parallels with "Where the Crawdads Sing" and "Practical Magic," this enthralling debut introduces us to young Weatherly Wilder, who utilizes her distinctive gift to decipher her cousin's mysterious murder and clear her own name. The narrative unfolds amidst the mesmerizing landscapes of Appalachia, blending seamlessly with elements of magic realism.

The ambiance is both eerie and captivating, making "In the Hour of Crows" a delightful read. The 80's vibe, the intense Southern Gothic setting, and the unique magical elements struck a chord with me, reminiscent of the folk magic prevalent in our reality.Weatherly's character is compelling, driven by her impulsive actions, unwavering commitment to uncover the truth about her cousin's death, and the repercussions she faces due to her hasty decisions. Her extraordinary gift, termed "Death Talking," adds an element of suspense and intrigue to the story. The intricate family dynamics are portrayed vividly, highlighting Weatherly's close-knit relationships with Adair and Aunt Violet, juxtaposed against her strained ties with her grandmother.

The novel explores a range of familial issues, addressing topics such as abuse, alcoholism, and addiction with a raw and immersive narrative, creating a palpable sense of tension throughout.

Heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this outstanding eARC.

Weatherly Wilder lives with her mean old Grandmama in the backwoods. In her superstitious family, they have a “gift”. A gift of talking to death. Feared by townspeople, but called on when needed, Weatherly has an odd, strained relationship with folks. Helping to keep her grounded is her cousin & best friend, Adaire. When Adaire is killed in a hit & run by the town’s wealthiest man, Weatherly is cast adrift. The story follows Weatherly’s search for justice for Adaire. And that search leading to her learning more than she bargained for.

Gripping & poignant in parts, some inconsistencies detract from the ability to get lost in the story. Adding to that were a few word or spelling errors that jarred me out of the story (ex: “reap what you sew” instead of ‘sow’). Overall, worth reading but the story could benefit from a good editor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mira Books for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

This is one of my favorite books I have read in the past couple months! I love the southern Appalachian small town setting and the unique death magic that Weatherly posseses. Combine that setting and those witchy powers with a murder mystery, and you hooked me so fast. This book packed a lot into less than 300 pages and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. I would highly recommend!

***My only complaint is that there were quite a few formatting and spelling issues - I am hoping that by the time this is published in a few months, those will have been corrected.

Spooky and atmospheric. I adored In the Hour of Crows. Absolutely love the 80's aesthetic, that stuffy, southern gothic vibe, and the concept of magic. It's relevant and not too dissimilar from the folk magic of our world.

I really liked Weatherly, her impulsive brashness and refusal to give up on her cousin. She makes plenty of stupid decisions--and pays for them generously; her character just feels so real. Her power--Death Talking--is horrific yet fascinating. I especially appreciated the depictions of her relationship with her family--her closeness with Adair and Aunt Violet versus the shared animosity between Weatherly and her grandmother.

This book shows a great picture of typical (and also not-so-typical) family drama, including abuse, alcoholism, and substance-abuse. It's gritty, emmersive, and the pervasive sense of dread just bleed from the page.

Also, the Death vodka scene was perfect magic--and that epilogue!

This was a phenomenal telling of young women coming to terms with their unusual talent(s). The characters are fully fleshed out and three-dimensional. The setting is a detailed and realistic portrayal of the countryside of Georgia. The characters cling to traditions and unusual ways while struggling with old family secrets and confusing magic that not everyone understands. This is much of what I love in a story set in Appalachia, people who may be short on money, but not on brains, and those who embrace their heritage while seeking to explore the rest of the world. Strange magic, unusual people, great dialogue!

The book really throws you in from the beginning. Stick with it it’s worth it! You get a bit of Appalachia culture with a murder mystery mixed in, alongside some interesting family dynamics. I’m desperately hoping there might be a second book from Rook’s perspective and a continuation of the story.

“In the Hour of Crows” by Dana Elmendorf is a fantasy novel that takes place in the foothills of Appalachia. The main character is a sin eater, she has the ability to talk death from those who are dying. The book combines mystery, romance, superstition and fantasy and I was totally intrigued by the concept. Unfortunately, the book didn’t hold my interest and I found the characters not fully formed which caused me to be confused in many of the chapters. I am a bit sad writing this as I thought the premise had a lot of potential it just felt unfinished to me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoy books with characters who are gifted in some unusual way and misunderstood by other characters. Dana Elmendorf crafted a wonderful story in this category. Characters are interesting and well developed. The story flows very well, and there are enough twists and turns to hook the reader. I had a very hard time putting this down.

Okayyy spooky 80s Appalachian vibes.. I like it, I like it 🖤

Little bit dark, little bit creepy, little bit murder mystery, little bit Appalachian folklore.. I can “dig” it 😉

Weatherly can talk death out of dying and she is determined to find her cousin’s true killer, but family secrets, and her own, run deep.

It admittedly took me a little bit to get into this book and the writing felt a little confusing for me in areas (may have just been the formatting of the eARC I received), but I’m giving a whole extra star for the ending 🙌🏼 loooved it 🖤

⭐️4/5 🌶️0/5

Review in a few days on Instagram @lexinator_reads

I really liked the witchy vibe and setting of this book, but it felt a tad underbaked in some spots (I think that's because of Weatherly, a main character who doesn't always hold as much interest as some secondary ones.)

I liked the idea of "death eaters" and insight into the family history of the practice and how it affected their role in the community. The story throws you into this world pretty quickly. But once things get moving, there is more nuance and background to flesh out some of these ideas. I'm still a little lost on the particulars of the opening scene with the twins, but admit it does grab and hold your attention, and we get additional information to add clarity.

I really loved Adaire (and wish we'd spent more time with her and her role in the story.) The book kicks off as her murder, so we know she dies, but I'd liked to have learned more how it felt for her to deal with that as a seer. I also was fascinated by Bone Layer, who plays a pivotal role in the story, but about whom we know little.

I think my biggest beef was with the Rook storyline and the whole notion of crows in general. Given that their presence lends itself to the title and Rook's appearances are interspersed throughout the book, I thought this relationship would play a bigger role. I wanted more scenes with Weatherly and Rook and more of a connection between that relationship and the main plot line.

But that doesn't mean I DISLIKED anything in this book. It was a wonderful premise, with fascinating characters, that felt a bit unevenly constructed. (There is a A LOT going on in this story). Still, it's a worthwhile read, with a plot, setting, and mystery that really held my attention.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great Appalachian book with the myth of the sin eater. I wish this had been longer , as these kinds of books that I like to climb inside and live a while. Great work on this debut novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf.

Do you ever have one of those glitches where you've never heard of something before and then once you do it's everywhere? This is the second time in the past week that I have learned about sin eaters (the other being The Witchstone by Henry Neff). Though the role is used differently in each story, it taught me a new layer of terrifying religious zealotry.

In the Hour of Crows main character, Weatherly is a sin eater. She has the ability to talk death from those who are dying, and has been filling this role for over a decade after her pawpaw passed and gifted the ability to her. Weatherly has lived a rough life for only being 20 - her cold and mentally abusive grandmama runs the family, the townspeople look at Weatherly as a devil (even when she has saved them), and she has no means of leaving her hometown. When we meet Weatherly her best friend and cousin, Adaire, has been murdered in a hit and run by the town mayor and the courts do not pursue the case. Filled with anger Weatherly curses Stone Rutledge and his family, but when his family starts to die Weatherly finds herself with questions, under suspicion and in serious danger.

I wish that this plot was the one that Elmendorf stuck with throughout the novel - she does an excellent job of setting the stage with the town and Weatherly's gift and there is a lot of well built tension in this regard. Where the book misses its mark is then adding mysteries around Rook (that plotline became a length of whiplash over the last ten percent of the book and I still don't quite understand it's purpose), by not building out the urban fantasy/magical system/magical realism of the place, by placing her grandmama as a character to be feared but not letting that really burn through the pages, by not giving more backstory to the other people close into her life, by not letting us see Weatherly's grief from all the angles that were affecting her actions - it felt like pieces that could have strengthened the gut punches of the story were just sort of tapped in the periphery. I think if these were expanded upon in the right way, this could be a 5 star book - right now it feels like a solid draft but it's just missing that kick.

That being said, I read this in two sittings. I thought it was engaging. While some of the gotcha moments were easy to see coming, there was still well-built cause-and-effect throughout and I was rooting for Weatherly to find justice and to get her life together. It was a moody read - it feels dark but it's not horror-adjacent. The setting itself seems true to the characters and to the culture of Appalachia.

If you like this, or if you were unsure about this, give Alix Harrow's Starling House a go - I think that is the closest comparison I can think of but told in very different ways.

This story will take you deep into the hill country of Appalachia, with their mysterious ways and people. It is lyrical at times, even with a suspicious death to be solved, and the action moves along steadily, for the most part.

We meet Weatherly, who can talk death out of folks, her cousin Adaire, who can scry the future, and briefly, Rook, a young boy from Weatherly's childhood memories who may, or may not, be real and walks the souls of the dead to their afterlife. Adaire has been killed in an accident. Weatherly gets caught up in trying to solve what turns out to be an unsolved murder.

The biggest problem with this story is the characters. Adaire we only see in flash backs as she is killed before the story begins. Rook we see only briefly a few times. And they are both far more interesting people than Weatherly. Weatherly is brash, self-centered, thinks she knows it all, listens to no one, guiltlessly takes advantage of those who care for her, and just all in all is a very unlikeable person.

The story is very good, descriptions of the countryside, the ramshackle houses, the antebellum mansion, all come to life quite nicely. The tale is fascinating, a behind-the-scenes look at the local folklore at work. A few passages dragged on, feeling more like filler than part of the story, but all in all, a good read. Just wish it had included more of Adaire and Rook.

Weatherly's mother left her as a baby, and her Papaw and Grandmama raised her in the foothills of the Appalachians. It wasn't exactly a normal childhood or even a happy one. Her Grandmama is a Granny witch banished by her family to the foothills, and her Papaw was a Death Talker, a power he passed on to her. Her Grandmama is known far and wide for her tinctures and creams, all made with a little Sin Eater Oil, which can help or harm you based on the dosage. And where does that Sin Eater Oil come from? Weatherly, of course, she can talk to death, talk it right out of a person and take it into herself, and then she coughs up all that death in the form of the black Sin Eater Oil. Some call Weatherly blessed by God; others say she is the product of the devil because she can talk death out of a person! When her cousin Adaire is run down and killed, and the killer walks free, Weatherly vows to find the truth, even if it means digging up the past and disobeying Grandmama. With the help of Rook, a Spirit Walker, friends, and family, she will stop at nothing until she knows the truth.

Combining folklore from Appalachia with hints of mystery, romance, and fantasy, In the Hour of Crows is a unique book unlike any I have ever read. I sometimes found myself a little confused because I didn't know much about Appalachian folk tales or death superstitions, but it was also intriguing. There were elements to the story that I found to be lacking; for instance, the story of Rook seemed unfinished and wasn't clearly explained well. I felt the same way about the character of Bone Layer; after finishing the book, I was upset that I still had so many unanswered questions about him. Who was he? Why did he care so much for Weatherly's family? I just felt like the author tried to do too much in one novel, and because of that, not all the elements, characters, and themes could be fully developed. With that being said, however, it was still an interesting read!

Disclaimer: Even though I received a complementary advanced copy of this book, the thoughts and opinions above are solely my own.

Spooky little voodoo tale revolving around the vehicular death of a young woman. This is a new form of black magic I haven't heard of before but the stereotype of backwater, lower class is evident. The language at the beginning is pretty crass and vulgar, but once the action starts, you are spellbound and nothing will turn you away. The culture of the tale is very rich, and the characters are both alive and mysterious. My most favorite character is Rook - he is such a creative element in this tale. There are so many magical and mysterious pieces to this puzzle, and the unraveling of the mystery is first class! It is black magic, so you will have a little disquiet to your soul. Still, I enjoyed it so much that I wish it was a series -- I hate to say goodbye to this little world full of eerie surprises at every turn!