When Among Crows

In this stand-alone novella, Roth (Arch-Conspirator) offers an urban fantasy infused with Polish folklore, set in modern-day Chicago. Dymitr, a monster hunter cursed to trade pieces of his soul for each kill, leaves Poland and travels to the gritty streets of Chicago, where he encounters Ala, a zmora or nightmare demon, who feeds on fear. Dymitr seeks the legendary Baba Jaga but needs a guide through the Chicago underworld. Ala, facing her own demise because of a family curse, sees a glimmer of hope. An unlikely alliance forms after Ala agrees to help Dymitr in exchange for an enchanted flower that can lift her curse. Time is ticking, however, as they have a mere 36 hours to find the powerful witch and save themselves. Narrators Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell skillfully handle the Polish and American accents, immersing listeners into Roth’s well-described landscape. Listeners will want more stories from this world when the novella ends.