Having shot to fame and recognition for her dystopian future series, Divergent, Veronica Roth is not incorporating the stories and flavours of older times into the modern day as she combines the myths and monsters of Polish history with the city of Chicago; creating a wonderfully engaging and interesting new world for readers to explore.

When Among Crows tells the stories of three protagonists, Ala, Dymitr, and Niko, with the story cycling through each of them as narrators, giving the audience three unique yet interconnected perspectives on the story. Each of our three protagonists carries a burden, ones placed upon them by their families. These familial pressures force them into situations and lives that they don't really want to be living; and it's these burdens and the missions that they're sent on because of them, that bring the three of them together into an unlikely team.

The dynamic between the main characters is enjoyable, and the ways that they interact and come together are a genuine highlight of the story. I love how much heart Dymitr has, and how caring a person he is, especially with his past. And Niko and Ala have some fantastic chemistry with some of the best scenes involving the two of them. The characters play off each other so well, especially for such a short read, and any fear I had that character development would be sacrificed to make way for story was unfounded, as the character moments in this novella often put some very long novels to shame for how well done it was; showcasing Roth's writing skills.

But, this is not just a book about people, it's also got monsters. Roth combines the creatures of Slavic folklore, such as the leshy, banshee, stryga, and Baba Jaga with the realism of modern day Chicago. Urban Fantasy is a popular genre, and the wonder of finding out a world of the magical and horrific exists hidden just below the surface appeals to a lot of reader; after all, who wouldn't want to accidentally stumble upon magic themselves? Here, however, Roth manages to blend this world in in less showy ways, and makes for a more subtle and downplayed kind of world.

This isn't a story where a whole other society lives just out of eyeshot, where the most outrageous and over the top events pass regular folks by; instead, this is a world that feels a lot more possible, where the extraordinary really seems to have to go out of its way to remain hidden. I loved the old cinema that shows old horror films that allows the creature that owns it to feed on human fear. The way in which the other integrates with our world is fantastic, and it's the moments like this that showcase the fact that Roth has put a great deal of thought into the creation of this world.

There is a lot about this book that I'd love to dive into more, more that I can see myself talking about for hours (I haven't even touched upon the Holy Order that hunts monsters that's inspired by Christian imperialism and history) but with the book only being a short read I'm a little afraid of going too in depth and spoiling something. This is a book that you should definitely discover on your own, and the less you know about it going in the more delightful your discovery of things will be. If you're looking for an emotional and moving story, with an amazing world you'll want to get lost in, in a small and gorgeous package When Among Crows is the book for you.

An interesting take on a Slavic folklore story. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this novella but was pleasantly surprise to find something unique and compelling offered up. A quick afternoon read perfect for fantasy fans. I'd be interested to see this fleshed out into a full novel as it felt a little too quick with not much time to get to know this unique, complex world and its inhabitants. Overall, a fun, different escapism that will have you Googling to know more.

A captivating urban fantasy tale with a fantastic folklore spin! When Among Crows was cinematic, thought provoking and just plain fun. I loved the characters and the setting. The plot was well thought out and thoroughly enjoyable.

My main complaint, and the only reason I haven’t given five stars, is how short it is. Whilst I’m partial to a novella, this format didn’t do the story justice in my opinion. The short length of the book forced character relationships to move far too quickly and didn’t give enough breathing room for the themes and concepts being shown. It could have done with being longer. Still, I loved the characters and what was done with them.

4/5 from me!

The setting and folklore around this was phenomenal, I adored the atmospheric environment of this novella so much. For a novella, it felt extremely well fleshed out.

n intriguing and fascinating urban fantasy novella inspired by Slavic folklore, a gripping and grim story that I loved.
Well plotted, great characters, a world building that mixes myth and urban life.
The setting, Chicago, was another take on this city and I loved it.
Well done, well plotted
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Ps: it would be interesting to read a novel featuring these characters and Harry Dresden

"When Among Crows" by Veronica Roth is a captivating contemporary fantasy that weaves together themes of love, sacrifice, and ancient enchantments against the backdrop of modern-day Chicago.

In this emotionally-charged tale, Polish folklore comes alive as monsters feed on human emotions, knights split their souls to forge weapons, and witches wield power beyond imagination. At the heart of the story are Dymitr and Ala, two characters bound by fate and burdened by their own pain.

Dymitr, a monster slayer, carries the weight of his calling, having split his soul to create a sword from his own spine. Ala, plagued by a family curse that threatens her very existence, seeks a cure to save her life. When their paths cross in Chicago, they embark on a journey to find the legendary witch Baba Jaga, whose enchanted flower may hold the key to Ala's salvation.

Roth's storytelling is both immersive and spellbinding, drawing readers into a world where magic and reality collide. With its richly drawn characters and atmospheric setting, "When Among Crows" is a tale of hope and resilience in the face of darkness.

As Dymitr and Ala race against time to break the curse, readers are taken on a thrilling adventure filled with twists and turns. Roth's prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the essence of Polish folklore while infusing it with a modern sensibility.

Overall, "When Among Crows" is a mesmerising read that will leave fans of fantasy longing for more. With its blend of mythology, romance, and suspense, this novel is sure to enchant readers from beginning to end.

A man seeking redemption that he doesn’t deserve. Monsters that would be justified in taking their pound of flesh. An unlikely trio bound by pain and blood. What’s not to love?!

The Baba Jaga lured me here but I stayed for the curse, the longing and the body horror. Fear has never smelled so sweet.

This story works perfectly as a novella. I loved the story so much, though, that I want more. I loved all of the characters but I want to follow Dymitr for an entire series.

The less you know about this one going in the better. The blurb probably even gives away too much.

I devoured this in one sitting and it might have only been a couple of weeks since I read it but I am so ready to dive back in again.

“I know what haunts you.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this novella.

When Among Crows is the perfect novella, well for me. With memorable and well developed characters, realistic romance that is not the main focus, gore and a touch of folklore to boot. I was able to read this in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.

There is a wonderful amount of Polish and Slavic folklore which I adored and while no expert I will certainly be researching more into that cultures folklore now. The other thing I adored was how in such a short space of a novella that Roth was able to make such wonderfully fleshed out (excuse the pun) characters that you quickly become attached to. My only ‘con’ of this is that I want more. I need more of Ala, Niko and Dymitr. I would really love to see Roth continue this world and have more stories from it.

If you are a fan of dark fantasy inspired by folklore this one is for you.

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.