Release date: 20th May 2024
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 166
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

When Among Crows is swift and striking, drawing from the deep well of Slavic folklore and asking if redemption and atonement can be found in embracing what we most fear.

We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.

Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill.

Pain is Ala’s inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. When Dymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.

Together they must fight against time and the wrath of the Chicago underworld. But Dymitr’s secrets—and his true motives—may be the thing that actually destroys them.

Review

When Among Crows is the newest release from Divergent author Veronica Roth and boy does this novella pack a punch! At just under two hundred pages, I completely devoured this book because it was so captivating.

The story follows our two main characters Ala and Dymitr as they embark on a quest to find Baba Jaga. Ala is suffering from a blood curse and Dymitr offers her the chance of a cure in exchange for help finding the legendary witch. Will the two find what they’re looking for and at what cost?

This is my first time reading a Veronica Roth book since the Divergent series and I absolutely loved it. Roth has created such a fascinating world and I loved the way she mixed in Slavic folklore in a modern Chicago setting. The characters were well crafted and I really enjoyed seeing the relationships between Ala, Dymitr and Niko develop as the story progresses. When Among Crows is a beautifully written story and one that kept me hooked till the very final page. I highly recommend this one and can’t wait to see what Veronica Roth does next!