When Among Crows was one of my favorite reads of 2024.

When I heard there was going to be a sequel, I was thrilled.

I knew it was going to be good. I had no idea it was going to be this good.

I loved the first book because it delved so deep into Eastern European Mythology and created characters that were flawed and 'human' and made me care so deeply for them.

All of that is true about this book too. But what I loved most was the underlying question of what really makes a monster?

The Knights would have you believe that monsters are anything that isn't human. But throughout this book we see the love, kindness and care that is shown by Ala and Niko, creatures not considered human. And then we see the hatred and harm caused by Dymitr's grandmother and mother, humans, but with none of the compassion humanity should be known by.

And then about halfway through you think: 'The Knights are the monsters.' And then we are kindly reminded by Dymitr that "Knights, like the creatures they hunt, are people.'

'Humanity' has nothing to do with how human you are or aren't. It has everything to do with how you treat those around you. A lesson more people could take to heart in our day and age.

Thank you for writing such an incredible book. It's one that I won't quickly forget.