SFF

When Among Crows

by Veronica Roth
Tor. May 2024. 176p. ISBN 9781250855480. $19.99. FANTASY
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Chicago is home to many living beings, but not all of them are human. Dymitr has been taught since he was young to see the monsters that roam the streets and has been told that they do not deserve to live. Ala holds a family curse passed from her mother; she sees the horrors of the Holy Order—those who hunt the monsters—and knows she will die from it. Dymitr offers Ala a bargain: if she shows him how to find the powerful witch Baba Jaga, he will give her a magical flower that could cure her. The flower will only last a day, and their journey is filled with enchanted birds, grim memories, and the slim hope that they will survive. Lives will converge, change, and be chosen through this fast-paced story.
VERDICT Roth’s (Arch-Conspirator) novella is filled with Polish folklore, imaginative storytelling, and depictions of how family forms people but doesn’t have to define them. Fans of contemporary fairy tales and fantastical stories should pick this one up.
Reviewed by Kristi Chadwick , Feb 01, 2024
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