I enjoyed this so much more than I expected! The only reason I haven’t rated this 5 stars is because it took a bit of getting into. However, from about 30% through, I was addicted and read the majority in one sitting. I am thoroughly impressed by Veronica Roth’s ability to flesh out characters within the constraints of under 200 pages. A whole, complete standalone plot with a thread of romance - I couldn’t ask for more!

The time spent with Dimytr, Ala and Niko was fantastic, and they are the new iconic trio living rent-free in my head.

Thank you to Netgalley & Titan for the gifted e-book. I’m awaiting a physical copy of the book, and will be taking part in the blog tour between 13th and 24th May!

This review is for When Among Crows by Veronica Roth which releases in the UK on the 14th May! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Titan Books for giving me an eArc copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this novella, and my only real issue with it was that I wanted more! So quickly it got me so immersed into realm they created, I was a little bit sad when it finished so quickly. However, it also feels the perfect length at the same time. I’m just greedy.

It’s filled with Slavic/Polish folklore, creating a magical and scary world in which all of the creatures only seen in the dark are real and among us. I would suggest not reading the blurb from this if possible, as it does seem to give away a lot of story and you really want to go in with an open and ready mind. It also has a super interesting magic system, as well as a concept I’ve never heard of with ‘knights’ that use their own souls and bones to create the weapons they use. Super interesting idea.

Even in the small amount of pages, Roth manages to create such diverse and compelling characters. Dymitr was so fascinating, and I would have loved to see him and his backstory fleshed out a lot more. However, even without that you see enough to make you feel a range of emotions with them, as you find out what has caused them to chose the path they are on.

You definitely do not want to miss out on this story, and I can’t wait for it to be released so I can grab my physical copy. Would 100% recommend to any fantasy readers out there, especially those interested in folklore.

3.5 stars.
A short and gory novella. A fascinating tale but at times, it felt a bit rushed, for example I’d love to know what happened when the characters split up before meeting Baba Jaga. The end was nice but I’d like to know what the characters do next.

When Among Crows
Fantasy
Veronica Roth
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

• ᴘᴏʟɪꜱʜ ꜰᴏʟᴋʟᴏʀᴇ • ʀᴇᴅᴇᴍᴘᴛɪᴏɴ • ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ •

The world building was quite heavy and used info dumps quite often. It made it hard to keep track of the creatures, their abilities, their appearance, their strengths and weaknesses etc as well as the plot itself.

The multiple POVs helped to mix things up a bit but I still found the pacing slow at times and the plot started to drag.

I liked the characters. They had depth and they all had their own secrets and burdens to deal with.

The main plot twist was quite obvious to me but it was interesting to see the reactions of the other characters.

There was something about the writing style that I didn't click with but I can't quite put my finger on it.

*Thank you to @Netgalley, the author, and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*

Tangled up in Chicago with polish folklore, When Among Crows is probably the most interesting and intriguing thing I've read for a while. A novella that delivers a plot that drops you into it fast, this book really for me cements how good Roth really is at fantasy and how she can weave it into a city so brilliantly.

Though I feel the place is a character in of itself, When Among Crows is a fantastic story because of it's characters. Each one as they appear has their own story to tell, and even though we don't have many pages, they are developed well, their lives unfolding with perfect timing throughout this book (in fact, I wish the blurb told us less about these characters, let the book tell you).

Our plot jump starts in this book, with the Noonwraith scene (not for the faint of heart) and really makes for a read that pulls you in from the beginning, it doesn't have much time to do anything else, however it's done so well here - the illusion scenes are perfectly done and they don't feel like they jar in this story at all and allow the emotion of the story to really shine through.

I really enjoyed the writing, the characters come to life in this book so well and in scenes feel almost cinematic in their telling - like I think this should be a show, to be honest.

I want more from this world for sure.

(thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc for honest review).

It’s been a decade since i read a book by Veronica Roth but when I saw she had an adult urban fantasy novella coming out this year, I was immediately intrigued—and let’s be honest, that pretty cover caught my eye as soon as I saw it. This is a story based on Slavic folklore and set in modern-day Chicago. It follows Dymitr, a mortal who has been taught to hunt monsters his entire life, and who now sets out on a quest to find Baba Yaga. To do this, he offers a zmora a powerful flower that can break her curse in exchange for her assistance in finding the powerful witch.

During this 24-hour mission, the author introduces us to a world of leszy, zmory, strzygi, banshees and other creatures. I enjoyed the premise and it made me realize that, despite me thinking otherwise, I can sometimes enjoy quest stories. I think this one in particular benefits from letting the reader try to figure out what Dymitr’s ultimate goal is and why. I was also surprised by how gory this story is, but I think it complements the mystical and dark vibes of the novella.

It’s true that I generally prefer stories that take place over a longer period of time. And although the dynamics between the characters would have been more interesting if more time had passed, the fact that the mission had a deadline added some excitement to the read. Overall, this was an entertaining read.

When Among Crows is a little book that packs a huge punch.

Filled with Polish folklore, big emotions, and familial duty, Roth fits so much into this book, and all of it is handled brilliantly. I was consumed by this, and didn't want it to end. I don't know if this will become a bigger series, but I live in hope!

I adored Dymitr, and the relationships he built. In so little time, and with so few opportunities, Roth crafts a character who is heart-breaking, strong, sad, intriguing, and utterly beautiful. Niko and Ala, similarly, are wonderfully penned, compelling, and devastating. To create 3 characters, each with such personal and relatable sorrow, and have each of them be equally lovable is a feat by itself - Roth also manages to build an exciting and fresh quest around them.

I haven't read anything quite like this before, at once dropped in the middle of an adventure, and at the end of one, and yet, somehow, at the start of one. This felt like the liminal space before the beginning of an epic book, the parts you are spoon-fed in intense flashback, and I loved that. I would love to return to Dymitr's Chicago.

Thank you to Titan and NetGalley for providing me an eARC to review!

Some neat concepts in here, like seeing how the creatures have adapted to the modern world, but I have the same issue I have with a lot of novellas that there just isn't enough here for me to get fully invested. It was more character focused, so when you don't have a lot of time to get to know and care about the characters, the emotional beats just don't really hit.

Still an enjoyable read, though one that hasn't made a lasting impression.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an intriguing and entertaining novella steeped in Polish and Slavic folklore; a dreamy urban fantasy read with a fast-paced plot, engaging characters, and a couple of nice little twists. Honestly, it reminded me of One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake, so if you enjoyed that, then you're certainly going to like this too!

A very easy little read with memorable characters and a very well thought out world.

3.5. I think this was pretty good but it lacked depth. I guess that's fine given it's not that long but I was left wanting more.

Dymitr is on a mission to find Baba Jaga, his family are from a line of Monster hunters and Dymitr can spot one on sight.

However, to get to Baba Jaga and succeed in his mission, he may just have to team up with some of the 'monsters' he would normally be hunting

We have Ala who carries a family curse and Niko who has his own family secrets to bear, and neither are human but may be what Dymitr needs

For a novella, this story takes you on quite a journey in its less than 200 pages. I always find it a skill to get someone invested in a story and/or characters, and completely wrap it up in this length of book.

This books leans heavily on Polish folklore and I really enjoyed seeing that in this urban fantasy setting

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the early review copy, coming out in May

Veronica Roth has well and truly broken out of her YA phase with some recent releases that challenge genre tropes like Poster Girl and The Chosen Ones. Her latest novella When Among Crows is more down the line urban fantasy but is no less enjoyable. In it, Roth explores the mythology of Poland and its connection to more universal, global mythologies.
When Among Crows opens with a creature of legend and a man on a quest. That man Dymtri has come to Chicago from Poland seeking a rare and protected flower that can be used to lift a curse. Once he has the flower he must go into the twilight world of Chicago’s monster population where he seeks help for a deeper mission.
When Among Crows is in the mode of many current urban fantasies. Zalika Reid-Benta’s recent book River Mumma transposes Caribbean mythology to present day Toronto and Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series introduces a rich demi-monde to the urban environment. Roth draws on Polish mythology, brought to America by immigrants and as a result rubbing shoulders with Irish and South American creatures.
Given the subject matter and some of the characters, it is unsurprising that When Among Crows has a fairy tale quality. But it is also is a perfectly pitched found-family quest story with plenty of heart and a fascinating backstory. Long enough to draw readers in and make them care about the centrl trio of characters but short enough to consume in one sitting.

4.5/5

I absolutely adored this novella! It's filled to the brim with creatures and monsters from folklore, primarily Polish/Slavic folklore, and it feels so magical. In such a short time, Roth manages to immerse you in this hidden world and makes you care so deeply about all the characters within it. It's a brilliant concept executed perfectly.

I loved every single character so incredibly much. Dymitr is such a fascinating character written with such heart. I always found it awe-inspiring how skillfully Roth was able to weave in elements of the characters' pasts into the present day story. It was masterfully done so that I instantly became attached to them and understood their every motivation. Ala and Niko were also amazing characters, they all played off of each other phenomenally well. I wanted to spend so much more time with all of them!

I adored how folklore was woven into the very bones of this story. I loved the different types of connection the characters had with the folklore of themselves, it was such an intriguing way to explore heritage and a foreign motherland. I could tell, with every word, the passion Roth brought to this story.

You definitely won't want to miss out on this book! It's a magical whirlwind, it's a story of family and identity, it's a desperate, bloody clawing for redemption. I'm always astounded at authors' skills when I come across such incredible novellas. It's a wholly different level of expertise when you can tell such an emotional and moving story in such few pages.

Thank you Netgalley and Titan Books for an e-arc.

I loved the idea of this book and the story was excellent but there was just something about the writing style that I didn't personally get on with. I do however think a lot of people will adore this book!

I am always so impressed when authors can pack such a lot of story into less than 200 pages. I thought the hidden world of the zmora, the banshees and all the other creatures from Slavic folklore at play was absolutely fascinating and we were given enough information about each one for context without being bogged down in backstory. I thought the relationships between Dymitr, Nico and Ala were really well done and I enjoyed the plot very much. All in all, I had a great time with this one and would definitely read more set in this world.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was bloody great, literally. I really hope we get more from this world and its characters. It's a special skill to be able to flesh out a world, its magic system, and its characters in not so many pages. Veronica Roth has really honed her craft in recent years, and I can't wait to see what she releases in the future (hopefully a sequel for this and Chosen Ones hint hint). If you love quest novels with unlikely pairings, a splash of queer romance, and lots of blood and gore, you need this book. Thank you to Titan books for the gifted copy.

At about this time last year I read Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth and absolutely loved it, so was really looking forward to this novella as soon as I saw it on NetGalley…

and I wasn’t disappointed, from the very start we were immersed in a magical culture so different from the usual worlds we see portrayed in fantasy and urban fantasy.

The first chapter started the story off in such a vivid and fascinating manner I was hooked, then late on I was going to bed to finish a chapter and continue it the next day but just couldn’t put it down! So finished it at 1am, I’ve not done this for a long time.

Full of dark stories of blood, revenge, guilt, remorse, ancient hate, and curses all set in modern day Chicago where the various creatures of Slavic mythology have come across running from some of the same things that other waves of immigrants were running from. Finish this with a great tale of found family and an eventual kiss that seals the story.

The world building is amazing for such a short work and throws you full blown into the dark underworld that these creatures inhabit and the magic systems which are based on debt and/or blood.

My only disappointment is that I had to leave the world so beautifully and carefully described.

I’m always a sucker for stories with a depiction of Baba Jaga, and combine this with a quest story was brilliant, the depiction of the leszy at the start of the book was brilliant and this was the introduction to the idea of magical places coming from some form of debt.

As I said I just couldn’t put it down until finished and would love this world to be revisited at some point.

I received this from NetGalley and Titan Books in exchange for an honest review.

a subtly morose tale of folklore that really resonated with me in its eagerness to frighten. this was a great story that will leave readers wanting more.

In modern day Chicago, Polish folklore is alive. Monsters feast on human emotion, knights split their souls to make their weapons and witches always take more than what they give.

Pain brings Dymitr and Ala together. Dymitr’s pain is the monsters he and the other Knights of the Holy Order slay and split his soul into two to create his sword from his own spine, while Ala’s is the family curse she has inherited to see visions Of the horrors that the Holy Order committed.

One fateful night, the two meet and agree a bargain: if Ala can help find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. In exchange, Dymitr will give her an enchanted flower that might cure her.

But Ala doesn’t know who Dymitr is and what he truly wants and with less than 24 hours before the flower dies, killing her hopes of the curse being broken, the two need to move fast. But others want the flower and Baba Jaga’s location and they aren’t afraid to hurt and kill to get them…

It’s been a long time since I read Veronica Roth, but there was something about this that got me excited.

I will admit that this does have a slower start as this does throw you at the deep end. There is a lot of world-building at the start of the novella to explain the folklore, the urban fantasiness. Because of this, I did struggle to find my feet and to keep all the creatures straight in my head (if you know Polish folklore, it will help you get you on a even heel).

However, once this story gets over the world-building and the story/characters find their feet, the story runs and it fits an urban fantasy (though the cover doesn’t scream urban fantasy, but something a little more gothic).

It grows into a gripping read though I do feel that it could be a tad longer (not a full blown novel, but an extra few pages to flesh out ideas as I do think some readers will find that some aspects of the premise needed to be more fleshed out). Plus, I would have loved more pages to read the gentle and sweet M/M romance.

Might not be every urban fantasy readers cup of tea, I really liked this and feel that we could have more novellas in this world, very similar to Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series (if this does happen, I will be all over it!)

Monsters, Witches and Knights who spilt their very souls to create their weapons?
YES PLEASE.

Whilst this starts at a slightly slower pace, the lore and characters soon grabbed my attention. Urban fantasies don't always hit the spot for me, but the combination of an urban world with the lore and creatures creates a gritty yet believable world. When Among Grows is atmospheric read with a quest at its centre. Inspired by Slavic mythology, this novel has me wanting more of these characters and this world.