When Among Crows
Ratings25
Average rating3.9
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.
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I feel like this book needed more Slavic mythology or just more to it in general. I really hope there's a sequel so that my questions can be answered.
It was still a very beautifully written book. The way the creatures and their otherness were described makes it very easy to picture each species. And the rituals that are practiced for different spells are also well written into excruciating detail. Made me wince a few times reading them.
I was curious why the book is only 176 pages, but I am thankful now because I didn't struggle for long.
I don't think there is a single thing about this book that I liked, except the inspiration of the Slavic folklore.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance audio copy for review. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.Dymitr is a Knight of the Holy Order, sworn to hunt the monsters that prey on humans. He comes to Chicago and meets Ala, a zmora, cursed to a life of fear, pain, asnd an early death. He offers her a cure in exchange for her help finding Baba Jaga. Niko is a rare male strzygon who gets pulled into their quest along the way.
Set in Chicago and drawing heavily from Polish folklore, this novella tells a story og grief and loss, guilt and redemption. I loved all three main characters and the story itself. The folklore that weaves through the story was unfamiliar to me, but I was given enough info to understand what was happening. The narrators were excellent in bringing the story to life. This tale will live with me for a very long time, and I suspect i will reread it more than once or twice.
