This book reminded me of something that might come from Neil Gaiman. That is very much a compliment to Roth. She very seamlessly interweaves Polish folklore and urban fantasy together. I don't think I have a negative thing to say about this book, except that I wanted more. I fell in love with the characters, especially Dymitr and Ala, and the world building. The book was short. I feel that there was so much Roth could have expanded on.

When Among Crows is a standalone novella based mostly in Slavic lore. Dymitr is on a quest to find Baba Yaga. To do so will take the help of some of the creatures he has grow up knowing as monsters. But there is one that may be swayed to help if for the right price. Dymitr is walking a dangerous road, but is it his road to redemption or destruction?

Ana is cursed. The curse has been passed down through different members of her family and she has watched it burn through them one by one. When Dymitr shows up with a special flower that might be able to save her, if she helps him find Baba Yaga it is a bargain she has to take. However, she doesn’t really know where Baba Yaga is. Ana and Dymitr will have to journey through the underground magic world she is a part of, in order to find the legendary witch. Time is ticking as the flower is only good for 24 hours before the magic in it fades away.

I was on the fence about ever reading another Veronica Roth book after the end of the Divergent series. However sometime when you give an author a second chance they surprise you and you discover something else really great. I really enjoyed the lore of this book and the journey. I did guess to Dymitr’s reasons for seeking Baba Yaga but that doesn’t really diminish from the enjoyment of this strange world full of creatures that feed on pain, sorrow, despair and more. I enjoyed this brief journey in this world; I thought the ending was fitting.

Overall a fun novella set in an interesting world. The magic might be a little under developed but this is a story of families and how sometimes you eventually chose the one you want over the one you have.

Narration:
I always appreciate when I book has multiple PoVs that there are multiple narrators to capture the feel of the story. Helen Laser, James Fouhey and Tim Campbell cover the three different PoVs we listen to in the story. Tim Campbell is an accomplished narrator and I can pick out his voice in a story anytime he narrates. He has a wonderful tone and I always enjoy his performance. James Fouhey also falls into a category where I have listened to him before but couldn’t specifically remember where. Still with over 400 titles to his name, he is a strong narrator and did a great job in his PoV conveying the emotion and magic of the story. Helen Laser is a new to me narrator but she held her own against Tim and James doing Ana’s PoV proud. I was able to listen to the story at my usual 1.5x speed.

This is very well written. I knew nothing about the Slavic folklore background, and this isn’t a genre I dive into much, but I followed and really cared about the characters and the story. I actually like that it was a novella so that you get the general origin story in a cohesive format without having to parse it out of a longer tale. If you are one of the people who couldn’t get past the death of a particular heroine, this would be a great place to jump back in. And these are three of the best narrators in the business for the audiobook.

Alright, let's break this down in simple terms! So, you know how in a good story, the characters are like puzzle pieces, fitting together in all sorts of interesting ways? Well, in this book, the characters are like a whole jigsaw puzzle of personalities!

First off, we've got Dymitir, a guy who's carrying around a load of guilt like it's his favorite accessory. You can practically feel his struggles jumping off the page! Then there's Ala and Nico, two newbies to the crew who bring their own spark to the mix.

Now, here's the scoop: while the book lays the groundwork for some serious found-family vibes, it's like the author hit the gas pedal before fully revving up that engine. But hey, we can totally imagine these characters becoming one big, dysfunctional, but lovable family in the end!

And let's not forget about the plot—it's like taking a trip down a dark and twisty rabbit hole into the paranormal underworld of Chicago. Picture a road trip meets quest to win favor from Baba Jaga, the mythical creature. Sounds wild, right? That's because it is!

The action keeps you on your toes, the twists make you go "Whoa, didn't see that coming!" and the Slavic folklore woven throughout? Totally fascinating stuff!

Now, here's the kicker: while most of the ride is smooth sailing, there are a couple of bumps in the road. Some moments felt a bit forced, and others didn't quite hit the mark for me.

But overall, it's a wild ride that's definitely worth hopping on! Big thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me take this adventure and share my thoughts. So, grab your headphones and get ready to dive into this fantastical world—you won't regret it!

Thanks NetGalley and Veronica Roth for the ARC audiobook! I’m a big fan of VR. I’m rereading the divergent series at the same time I was reading this. She writes everything in Chicago which is fun. I loved the characters. There is one queer/lgbtq relationship, which isn’t my jam, but it was done well and wasn’t over the top or graphic.

Unique take on Baba Yaga. Just read The Witch and Tzar last year and so it was interesting to me to put her in the US. It’s a quick read, just a novella, but I’d go into it knowing it’s nothing like divergent. Which I’m sure is annoying to VR to have me say that, but when you’ve got a hit series, everything after that gets compared to it. I recommend to people who like fantasy and folklore retellings.

I enjoyed this story and audiobook. I have a good understanding of the mythology that's mentioned which I think was an advantage because I never felt like I needed to look up what something was and didn't want further explanation from the book. I liked the use of multiple narrators but I wasn't sure why they switched when they did - maybe I just missed the nuance. I would be interested in seeing these characters develop more in a longer format story as we don't get much time with them in this novella, but it was definitely a fun time for me.

It wasn't bad. I didn't love it. It was okay! Its a novella and the most interesting part to me was the ending.

Such an interesting urban fantasy! When Among Crows is set in Chicago, whose underworld is filled with creatures from Eastern European folklore/mythology. Dymitr has retrieved a magical flower which he hopes to use to gain assistance with a quest. He encounters Ala, a cursed zmora, and Niko, an unusal striga, along the way. The "monsters" of the city feed off negative emotions, which was really fascinating. There is a religious side of things regarding an order of people who try to slay these creatures. The book is very fast-paced as we quickly travel to different locations as steps on their journey. The book did a great job for me at balancing giving information about these creatures with exciting plot events. Dymitr, Ala, and Niko were all such captivating characters even in the brief time I spent with them. Everyone has secrets and inner conflict and turmoil that is slowly revealed. The book has some interesting discussion of what it means to question what you've been taught, make amends, and right your wrongs. I liked where the ending went, but it left me wanting more - as someone who enjoys series of novellas (like McGuire's Wayward Children or Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle), I would love to see this become a series!! I want to see where Dymitr, Ala, and Niko go next and also how the romance we get hints about might develop. Highly recommend for lovers of urban fantasy, Slavic folklore, and fantasy novellas!

When Among Crows is a unique magic driven novella based in the heart of Chicago. This was my first ever Veronica Roth and Slavic folklore fantasy story so I figured this 176 page/ 4 hour audio listen was the perfect place to start!

Within this novella we follow Dymitr as he is on a quest to break a curse. He meets Ala, a zmora who feeds on fear, and Niko, an incredibly powerful male strzyga who feeds on anger. The three are tied together by Dymitr’s mission, and visit some truly freaky locales on their quest, having to make occasional pitstops to fight darker, fouler monsters.

Roth's writing style made for a captivating reading experience but I felt as if the world building needed to expanded on more. I'll be honest, without those extra paragraphs explaining more about the world we are in and the upbringing of who the characters are, I was lost at times... especially within the first few chapters.

I struggled to care about the characters, and then by the time I was getting the swing of things, the book was nearly over. I felt as if too many fantasy creatures were shoved into this short story as I had to keep looking up the names of the creatures to figure out what was unique about each one. I will say, the vampire scene in front of the movie theater was sick. Deeper themes of redemption, sacrifice, & regret are thoroughly explored.

I recommend reading up on Baba Jaga before diving into this novella!

Helen Laser, James Fouhey and Tim Campbell did a fun job narrating and brining these characters to life.
Thank you Macmillian Audio for an advanced audio copy! #MacAudio2024 🔪

Atmospheric. Intriguing. I enjoyed this story, but the novella length made it difficult for me to connect with any of the characters. There are so many! And each without much background. I was lost. The writing is beautiful, the story has potential, I just need more.

The audiobook is read by Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell. Each had their unique qualities to add and were easily understood at faster speeds.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Veronica Roth for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF

The first two chapters felt so dissimilar. So many names, characters, and quests that I felt pretty lost in where this book was going.

I really enjoyed this! It moved very quickly and had great characters. I love the take on Eastern European mythology. The narrators were stellar.

In Veronica Roth's "When Among Crow," readers are immersed in a world where darkness reigns, and alliances are forged in shadows. Dymitr, burdened by his family's legacy as hunters of monsters, embarks on a perilous mission to find the legendary witch, Baba Jaga. His path intersects with Ala, a fear-eating zmora, and together, they navigate the dangerous landscape of Chicago's underworld.

Roth skillfully weaves a narrative filled with themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the complexities of morality. As Dymitr and Ala form an unlikely partnership, they confront not only external threats but also the demons of their pasts.

The novel's immersive world-building and evocative prose draw readers into a vividly realized setting where magic and monsters coexist with the mundane. With its gripping plot and nuanced characters, "When Among Crow" is sure to captivate fans of dark fantasy and urban paranormal fiction.

I honestly picked up this novella for the beautiful cover and the title but Voice Among Crows by Veronica Roth was a perfect package of a novella that felt almost like a full length novel. Beautifully paced, action packed, Slavic-folklore, cool characters and a solid plot. I love an audiobook that swaps narrators between MCs and the narrators here do a fantastic job. I honestly hope for a sequel to this to continue the found family story line and to see more of the world they live in.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

I received this as an ALC on NetGalley from MacMillan Audio.

I really enjoyed listening to When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. It is a well written, lush and atmospheric journey. I highly recommend this novella for readers who enjoy stories based in folklore, but beware things are not always what they seem. It felt like reading a Neil Gaiman story, and that’s high praise coming from me. I enjoyed each of the characters and learning about them, my only complaint is that I wish it were longer!

The narrators of this audio book were wonderful. They added to the overall experience of the book and allow the reader to get lost in the story. I don’t think they could have chosen any better.

Magic, Mayhem, and Finding your place.

Pub Date: 5/13/24

I really liked this book, I wasn’t so sure when I saw how short it was but I found that the length of the audiobook was perfect!

This a great story that draws from Slavic folklore to create lovable characters and a story you can get lost in, with concepts I haven’t really seen before, I liked the world building, and the magic. The characters were original and easy to relate to, we all have dealt with pain in one way or another, and we all cope with it in different ways.

This book shows that atonement is possible if you come forward with a good heart, and good intentions, and that overcoming fear may be the only thing holding you back.

I would recommend this book to a friend, it’s a nice short and entertaining read, and I liked the surprise romance :) 5/5⭐️

Thank you to the Author Veronica Roth. The Narrators, Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell. And big thank you to Macmillan Audio for my free audiobook copy of “When Among Crows”.

I received this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 ⭐

When Among Crows was a fast paced novella with religious (Christian) coded themes based around Slavic folklore. This story primarily follows Dymitr and Ala - Dymitr is on the hunt for Baba Jaga with a request only she can grant. He also came into possession of a rare flower that only humans can touch that can cure any curse. Ala just so happens to be one of those with a curse to break. The two need each other without realizing the scope. They go on a wild ride on their hunt for Baba Jaga.

This is an urban fantasy version of Chicago blended with myths and creatures. My main gripe is I wish it was longer! I loved how much Slavic folklore was included as well as the themes of responsibility and repentance in ones actions.

I didn't realize going into a novella when I was approved for this, but the author used every word and inch of space to give a compelling story. The audiobook was a great performance - I loved the multiple narrators and the accents made for a pleasant and quick read.

✨ Well developed characters
✨ Short, but FUN ride
✨ Adventurous quest
✨ Unlikely crew
✨ Family burdens and regrets
✨ Queer romance inclusion

When Among Crows releases 05/14/2024

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & TOR Books for an ALC of When Among Crows by Veronica Roth.

This was an interesting story but I do think I would have enjoyed if it was a bit longer. More background, more character and story development. Novella’s are like that sometimes though. 😆

In the town of Chicago there are two worlds intertwined as one. One filled with the folklore of monsters and the other a world filled with humans who are feasted upon.
Dymitr is on a mission to find the feared Baba Jaga, but he needs help. He soon meets Ala, who is cursed and will die if she can not find a cure. Dymitr strikes a deal with Ala, if she helps him find Baba Jaga he will give her the highly sought after magical flower that may break her of her family’s curse.
But there is a catch they only have one day before the flower dies….and Ala with it.
Overall rating 2 /5
I really wanted to like this book but ultimately just felt so lost in all the Polish folklore. I would have loved some more in-depth explanation or world building to explain how these characters existed. I wanted to see more context to the whole story. It just felt so rushed. This could be a great book given more development and backstory. It was also difficult to get over the accents given by the narrators. It truly made me disconnect from the story even more.

*Thank you to Veronica Roth, Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the audio copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

This short book packed quite a punch. These characters instantly jumped off the page and the descriptions were so well done that I was completely immersed in this world. I loved the current POV with some flashbacks at the best time that always left me with a tiny bit of doubt and curiosity about what was truly going on. It was emotional and powerful and I highly recommend it.

Note: the audiobook is FANTASTIC!