River of Crows

The Arcanium #1

by N.P. Thompson

"Will effortlessly hook readers and keep them eagerly turning the pages until the very end." — Kirkus Reviews
"An incredible adventure!" — Readers' Favorite
"Riveting and hard to put down." — Children's Bookwatch
2023 Wishing Shelf Book Awards SILVER MEDAL WINNER
2023 Canadian Book Club Awards FINALIST
A cryptic prophecy. A dangerous quest. An explosive family secret. And a crow with a white feather who is more than he appears...

Mortal peril is twelve-year-old Ty Baxter's new normal when he teams up with the weird girl from school to help an injured bird and suddenly finds himself trapped in a strange, magical world.

Now the target of a brutal tyrant with unfathomable power, Ty grapples with a life-altering revelation about his past and the implications of an ancient prophecy. As he struggles to control his own emerging magical Talent, Ty embroils himself in a desperate gamble to help his new friends save their missing family before the emperor uses his dark sorcery to transform them into birds, enslaving them forever as soldiers in his enchanted avian army.

And if he survives all of that, he's probably still going to get grounded—if he ever finds a way to get back home.

From debut author N.P. Thompson, River of Crows (book 1 of The Arcanium saga), thrusts unsuspecting seventh-grader Ty Baxter into a dangerous new realm of intrigue and magic where he must band together with a group of unlikely friends as they fight to save their families, their worlds, and each other from sinister forces. This witty, action-packed upper middle grade fantasy adventure with a cast of unforgettable characters will appeal to fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Keeper of the Lost Cities, and Wings of Fire.

"A smart, funny, exciting fantasy novel for younger readers who love all things magical." — KIRKUS REVIEWS
"River of Crows is full of surprises with themes of friendship, family, self-discovery, and magic."
— READERS' FAVORITE
“Thompson creates memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page has been turned.” ★★★★★
“River of Crows is a thrilling debut novel... a well-crafted story that will leave readers craving more.” ★★★★★
“Ooh, what an adventure this was!” ★★★★★
"A jam-packed story complete with twists and turns!" ★★★★★
“A brilliant middle grade fantasy” ★★★★★

Genres: Fantasy

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2022

About the author

N.P. Thompson lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her two awesome kids and a very lazy cat. When she's not building web things you can either find her wrangling plot bunnies or binge-watching episodes of Doctor Who and Babylon 5. She enjoys talking to the neighbourhood crows (most days), but wishes they would stop nagging her about not having finished their stories yet.

Reviews

[Kirsty Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Arcania, a strange and foreign world full of magic, mythical creatures and mayhem; a place where Ty and Ayslenne didn’t know existed until now!

But Thompson has invited us on one heck of an adventure when the pair stumble across a portal and end up in the middle of this magical land, searching for Ayslenne’s kidnapped brother, but more importantly, looking for a way home.

Filled with tension, adventure and magic, ‘River of Crows’ is a jam packed story complete with twists and turns, intriguing and terrifying characters and touches upon themes such as friendship and family, loyalty, morals, bravery and faith.

Along the way we meet characters like intelligent Archimedes, broody Corwin and Ayslenne and Ty develop a bond with charismatic trio Sasha, Shea and Simon, siblings looking for their missing parents. The mismatched group band together and use their strengths to attempt to thwart the evil Emperor Blackthorn and his crow army, leading to many escapades, rescues and escapes that keep you on the edge of your seat.

‘River of Crows’, the first in the Arcania series, was an exciting and emotional read and Thompson creates memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page has been turned. I can’t wait for the next instalment in the series to see if the group prevail and if Ty and Ayslenne ever make it home from Arcania.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was enjoyable and I think the targeted age audience would like it. For me, though, I found that some of the dialogue went on and on with no point. It did not forward the story that I could see.

[Cristy Villemaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet River of Crows by N.P. Thompson is an incredible and fast-paced middle-grade book that is the first in an enchanting series. I absolutely love magical realms, unlikely friendship and enigmatic creatures.

Talking about creatures, as you can see by the name and cover of this beautiful book, a mysterious crow is a big part of the story. Our main protagonist, Ty Baxter, teams up with the odd girl at school. After that, unlikely alliance, Ty's life will change forever. Ty and Ayslenne are transported to the magical realm of Arcania. They'll go on a dangerous quest and see all sorts of magical happenings. Along the way, we'll meet a cast of amazing characters and an epic fantastical journey. I can't wait to go on another adventure in book two.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love corvids (the genus of birds including Crows, Ravens and Rooks not the be confused with that other covid) and I adore fantasy so of course I was excited for this one even not being the intended audience. By the way even in my early thirties I adored this one! But I’m getting ahead of myself. River of Crows is a wonderful fantasy that has great world building, adventure and of course Crows!


I really liked the pace this one with the chapters being a good length to pace the story and reading (but I wasn’t able to pace myself and finished this in two sittings!). But it would be perfect for encouraging or getting children to read themselves. Tied to the pacing is the story itself. The writing is engaging and a good level to both engage and challenge depending on the reading level.


The characters are perfect as well. I really liked how their friendship was formed over the novel and the idea that you shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover or who you could become friends with. All in all this had everything that you could expect and want from a fantasy, good world building, interesting characters and an engaging story. I will definitely be looking forward to more works by Thompson in the future. Hopefully with a lot more crows as well.

[Cait (cait.the.bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked on this story and I absolutely zoomed through it. It was a super cute middle grade fantasy. I love corvids so the fact that they play a key role in the story was a definite bonus.

I truly appreciated how freaked out Ty, the main character, was when given the Choosen One spiel. It's nice to see normal reactions represented in fantasy.

Sasha is an absolute legend and I love her. Shea has to put up with so much bs between his younger siblings and Ty and Ayslenne, he truly is just a tired big sibling doing his best.

Speaking of doing his best can we shout out Corwin who really was just trying to look after Ty and ended up having to double cross the Emperor. Like that was the correct choice but a choice nonetheless.

The cliffhanger ending is absolutely killing me and I need the sequel now!

[Cristy (Quinnbook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet River of Crows by N.P. Thompson is an incredible and fast-paced middle-grade book that is the first in an enchanting series. I absolutely love magical realms, unlikely friendship and enigmatic creatures.

Talking about creatures, as you can see by the name and cover of this beautiful book, a mysterious crow is a big part of the story. Our main protagonist, Ty Baxter, teams up with the odd girl at school. After that, unlikely alliance, Ty's life will change forever. Ty and Ayslenne are transported to the magical realm of Arcania. They'll go on a dangerous quest and see all sorts of magical happenings. Along the way, we'll meet a cast of amazing characters and an epic fantastical journey. I can't wait to go on another adventure in book two.

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh, what an adventure this was. I used to love fantasy adventures as a kid and this was such a brilliant story I couldn’t put it down! It has the perfect amount of friendships, darkness and kids being heroes. I love how crows are the center of everything here. It’s a refreshing idea and fits the story perfectly.
Although, the story line is completely different, River of Crows still reminds me a lot of Harry Potter and as a super fan, I can only say, go read this book. If I had kids, I would totally read this to them!
I can’t wait to see what Team Arcania faces next!

*ARC received from Love Books Tours. Review was written voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

We found this thanks to our local library’s suggestion based on our reading habits and was not disappointed. I really loved the world building and characters in the book. It was paced well and was full of magic and adventure. There were good twists and turns and reveals that kept it interesting and kept me hooked. I am happy to find out that the next book will be out soon and the author is already working on more!

[Renee Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted this for my grandson and I to read together at bedtime. I am thrilled that I did! Twelve year old Ty Baxter's adventures were such fun. The story plot is excellent. The characters are well developed. We were hooked from chapter one! Ahhh uh don't tell but grandma stayed up the first night and read the whole book! Thanks #Netgalley and #BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ebook copy and loved this book! There was action, adventure and themes of friendship and family. The author does an amazing job of hooking the reader immediately and the vocabulary and dialogue are fantastic. The story moves at a great pace. My fifth grade readers are going to love this! The best part is that it is the first in what is sure to be an engaging series!l

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The prominence of crows in the story presents conflicting impressions for readers. In general, crows don’t have a positive reputation due to their size, black color, and association with witches and other evil things. Then, this book opens with crows killing a man and attacking his family so negative feelings are reinforced. However, the main character Ty befriends a crow with a streak of white that saves him from bullies near school. It turns out the bird is actually a man named Corwin with the ability to transform into a crow. Just when you start thinking Corwin might be a good character, he reveals that he’s part of the Black Guard that follows orders from the evil emperor.
Magic is common in the world of Arcania and people without talents are looked down upon. Ty and a girl named Ayslenne pass through a portal from Ordane, which literally means “lacking magic”, and Ty finds he has much to learn about this new land. A humorous moment is found when Ty meets a hob (a fey folk) professor who says he’s an expert on Ordane. The hob is so proud of his magnificent collection of Ordane artifacts like Lego pieces, frisbees, and plastic buttons and is fascinated by zippers. Every new character is stunned to learn Ty comes from Ordane since the emperor has made it illegal to build portals between the two worlds. Ty discovers he possesses magic but being untrained can make it unpredictable and dangerous. It’s triggered by strong fear or anger but impulsive emotions make his powers erratic. Readers won’t know what to expect.
The plot is full of adventure as Ty tries to help new friends rescue their families. They don’t know if the family members have been executed, are languishing in prison, or have been transformed into crows in the Black Guard. How can family members be found if they might be crows flying among thousands of other crows? Ty and his friends trek across the country through a vast, dense forest searching for information and guidance. The long trek offers plenty of time for Ty and Ayslenne to bicker and nag which other characters and readers will find quite humorous. The plot reveals secret connections between some of the characters that might explain unexpected behaviors. The emperor is executing anyone showing signs of rebellion so characters are leery of sharing true thoughts with strangers.
What didn’t work as well:
There are instances where the setting jumps to other places or times but they don’t add much to the plot. Knowing what the emperor is thinking and doing is useful information but the other jumps could have been woven into the story. Also, Ty displays bravery and determination that’s not as evident while living in Ordane so his actions in Arcania may initially raise eyebrows. These issues aren’t a big deal and shouldn’t affect reader enjoyment.
The final verdict:
An adventure about a young character discovering new powers isn’t unique but the prominent inclusion of crows makes it feel fresh. Ty’s strong sense of virtue and willingness will connect with readers and the drama and action will keep them engaged. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot!

[Lanie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ty Baxter is just trying to get throw the seventh grade, but between his day dreaming and bullies it's not looking promising. One good thing he has going though is Streak, the crow that he's been training since he dad won't let him have a pet. One afternoon on his way home from hanging with his best friend Ty stumbles upon the school bully and his friends throwing rocks at Streak, terrified that he will get beat up but afraid for Streak Ty hangs back gathering his courage to help his feathered friend, when he realizes that Ayslenne the new girl from school has taken matter into her own hands. She shoves the bully aside giving Ty the courage he needs to jump in and help. Both Ty and Ayslenne tend to Streak after seeing the bullies off, and realizing that he probably can't fly they take him back to his roost, where something amazing happens. A portal opens up and all of the crows including Streak jump through it, Ayslenne jumps through too pulling Ty with her. When they land Ty finds himself in a whole new world, one of magic and danger.

This was just a fun little adventure fantasy. We've got a "Chosen One" plot line which is not my usual go to but in a middle grade book it just hits differently. For the most part I enjoyed the characters, but I will admit that Ayslenne got on my nerves pretty much throughout the entire book. She's just kind of mean, and yeah, I get she's had a shitty life, but I think her attitude went a little bit too far. Ty was truly a perfect "holy crap there's magic" MC. I really enjoyed him and the fact that he would be "heck yeah save Arcania" on one page and then the next crying that he wanted to go home. That was pretty realistic for me. The Emperor is pretty freaking evil, much worse than you'd expect from when we are first introduced to him for sure. The Sakuma siblings were perfect side characters, I really loved Sasha and all of her questions!

In terms of pacing and world building I found this to be perfect. There's not so much world building that it would bore kids but enough to explain the history of both worlds and the magic found within Arcania and more importantly how it works. There are just enough gaps in time between major events that it doesn't get boring, although while I think it was great that their trip to the Citadel didn't involve too much danger, I think that the lack of it also made it feel like it may not have been as dangerous as it seems. Which this unfortunately does add to my dislike of Ayslenne, she seems to think that Ty isn't taking the danger the Emperor poses seriously and I found that understandable. Everyone is just telling him it's super dangerous there's no real proof of that for most of the book.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this for really any age. It was a really quick read that for middle grade readers it's a little bit more mature than some other books I've read with similar plots and for adult readers it's a quick high stakes fun adventure fantasy!

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: River of Crows
Author: N.P. Thompson

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5

Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“I think fan of Percy Jackson will love this book. It’s exciting, fun and filled with suspense. Loved it!” Girl, aged 12
“This is the sort of book you’ll never get bored reading. It’s written by an author who remembers what kids enjoy reading – adventure!!! This book is not full of morals – but it is full of exciting happenings and suspense.” Girl, aged 12
“I liked the crow, I liked Ty, I liked were they were transported to. Ty has magic but he’s not very good with it. It’s clever how they moved to the different land using a portal which reminded me of C S Lewis’s books. It’s not MEGA original – boy has new powers, fantasy world, etc, but this book is so much fun, I can forgive that. The crow stuff is good too.” Girl, reader, aged 12
“I felt this was an exciting book from the very beginning. I don’t like slow books, I liked fast paced adventure, so this was perfect for me.” Boy, aged 10 – with a little help from his teacher

To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced, fantasy adventure filled with twists, turns – and suspense! A SILVER MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two worlds collide in an intriguing tale of magic with a touch of sinister intentions.

Ty doesn't like school and still does fine, but his strict father expects more. Ty's also bullied at school, but when a crow saves the day, he finds the pet his father would never let him have. Well, of sorts. There's something strange about this crow, but even stranger is the weird girl, who decides to talk to him. When they find themselves, trapped in a magical world, Ty's entire life gets flipped upside down as he discovers he has magical talents. But that's only the beginning. An evil emperor is transforming everyone against him into birds, and Ty and the girl seem to be the only ones who can help. Maybe.

This book immediately had me thinking of the German tale, Krabat, with an evil master, which turns assistants into crows. In this tale, it's an emperor, who turns those against him into crows, and this gives the entire thing a dark twist, which draws in. Ty is a bit prickly when the reader first meets him. The bullying and weird girl set the story off with a bit of edge before it takes a true, fantasy dive into the other world. Mixed with many short chapters, the read, especially in the beginning, seems unsettled, which works nicely as it leads into the uncertainty Ty faces with his new, magical abilities and strange world. He has a lot to learn and grows right along with the new friendship he forms.

The is a steady-paced read with moments of tension, action, and a touch of heart. The world building is well done and creates interesting scenes and characters. While some areas slowed a bit, most of the plot moves along with unexpected twists and turns. Plus, the problems Ty faces will have the reader rooting for him the entire way through.

It will be interesting to see where all of this goes next.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The debut book in a new series set in a magical kingdom called Arcania, River of Crows is an engaging middle grade mystery, with excellent world building.

To 12 year old Ty, Ayslenne is just an odd girl who attends his school. He doesn't know anything about her or her missing brother, but when he helps her to rescue a rather special bird, Ty has no idea what he's getting himself into.

After they journey through a portal, they accidentally find themselves in an enchanted land ruled by a brutal tyrant. Luckily, Ty and Ayslenne meet others with whom they can seek company and camaraderie. And, as they're trying to figure out how to get home, the pair soon discover just how serious the consequences of failing to do so will be for them...

This is an enjoyable and fast-paced adventure with likeable protagonists and excellent supporting characters. Recommended for those who like dangerous magical adventures in faraway lands!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Lauren Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my daughter Peighton who is 7. This is definitely the biggest book we have ever read together and it did take us quite a while to get through it as we read a chapter or 2 each night. However, we were both so invested in the story we were looking forward to bedtime each night to read some more!

The chapter where Ayslenne was thinking back to the night of her father made my daughter cry, when I asked if she was ok she said “it’s so sad that happened to her dad I feel sorry for him and for her I wouldn’t like that to happen to my dad” 🥹.

When I asked Peighton what she liked best about the book her answer was: “It was funny when they got trapped in the net and I like Archimedes cause he’s Scottish like us” (I made this very clear when reading the story to her😆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿).

A great fun and exciting read for any young reader or listener! Would definitely recommend.

We are looking forward to book 2!

[Jan farnworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked:
River of Crows is a Debut middle-grade first in a series of magical adventures that heavily features crows and chooses one theme. When 12-year-old Ty and his new friend from school attempt to help his injured crow named Streak, they are inadvertently sucked into a portal to the world of Arcanium. Where Ty will find the family he never knew he had, his new friend is surprisingly original from this world, and oh, they are evil emperors trying to destroy the world; just your typical middle-grade adventure, or is it? The author did a great job of using her kids as beta readers for this novel, so it feels like the dialogue was accurate for the age group. The level of danger was not extremely scary, and the twists and turns were unique.
Final Verdict:
Filled with tension, adventure, and magic, ‘River of Crows’ is a jam-packed story with twists and turns, intriguing and terrifying characters, and touches upon friendship and family, loyalty, morals, bravery, and faith.

[kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable start to a new YA series that had me hooked right from the very start and engaged me right until the end. It is well written with a compelling story line and well developed characters that were believable, relatable and that I loved. One of my favourite parts about the books was our two main characters and the friendship that developed throughout the course of the story.

This book is marketed as fans of Harry Potter and Wings Of Fire will love this book, and in my opinion they weren't wrong. I think that is what I loved about the friendship so much, it reminded me of Harry, Ron and Hermoine, but was also unique to them and their story.

The book is absolutely crammed full of action and adventure right from the start, so I never felt bored or that it dragged in any way. It was a really enjoyable read and I cannot wait to see what comes in book 2.

[Thistle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a lot of YA and MG books. The good ones can be enjoyed by adult readers as well as younger ones, but you can't blame a book when only younger readers might like it.

There was nothing wrong with this book. The writing and editing were excellent, especially for a self-published book. The story just felt like it was meant for a young reader, nothing hooked me or kept me wanting to read.

The prologue was great (set in a world with magic, an evil dictator had people killed for the most minor reasons, and the executioners were people who could shapeshift into crows). But then it moved to a normal kid in normal school on Earth. The first 10% of the book was just a young kid going to class, getting bullied, dealing with his father... yawn. Even once the kid and a friend got pulled into the magical world of the prologue, the story never caught my attention again.

DNF at 28%.

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

River of Crows is a thrilling debut novel from The Arcanium series. It is a well-crafted story that will leave readers craving more. The middle-grade fantasy follows the adventure of 12-year-old Ty, who is at the center of a foreboding prophecy and embarks on a journey to save the fantastical world of Arcania with his friends and a clever crow. This smart and exciting novel is perfect for young readers who love magical things. I highly recommend it.

Next Book in the Series:
Mirror of Wolves (The Arcanium Book 2)
Book 2 of 3: The Arcanium
Stone of Serpents (The Arcanium Book 3)
Book 3 of 3: The Arcanium
Available May 2, 2024

It was my pleasure to receive a free copy of this book, but that does not in any way affect my opinions in this review of this entertaining story.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did find this a little slow to start, but once the kids got to Arcania, and particularly when they met the siblings, I felt the action really ramped up.
This is a fantasy with dual worlds, talents, shape-shifters, magic, and mayhem! There's so much going on that this is going to be a series that really needs to be explored from start to finish.
I really liked all of the characters, I feel like it's only just scratched the surface of getting to know them and their backstory. I can't wait to find out more, though!
It's obviously aimed at middle-grade, aged children, but as an adult, I also really enjoyed it and would easily recommend it to other adults, too.
I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

[Tami Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who loves magic and adventure. Ty and Ayslenne enter a magical world through a portal in search of her kidnapped brother and a Ty’s pet crow Streak. What they find is a world that is under threat from the evil Blackthorn and his army of crows. They meet some new friends along the way, who are searching for their lost parents. Together this unlikely, rag tag group of friends must defeat Blackthorn and save Arcania. This book is full of magic, mythical creatures, action and adventure. The world building in this story is brilliant! The characters are loveable and perfect for the story. I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Ag · Rating 5 out of 5]

A middle-grade chapter book that is filled with magic and adventure, this one was a fun and entertaining read! This is a story of an unusual friendship that forms within a strange group of unlikely friends, it is filled with relatable emotions, and the story of all the things they do, and encounter adds an exciting layer to it. There were even twists and turns, so it will keep every young reader hooked. It is fast-paced and – the best part now! – this is book one in the series! So, there is MORE!

[Lauren Flewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great youth read (8-13 years old) with a fantasy/magic vibe sure to inspire the minds of the young!

Ty finds himself in a different, magical world and has to step up to save new friends.

I love the cover of the book, it’s what drew me in from the start. This would be great for a slightly older reader or a parent and child to read together.

[Karen Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about friendship, bravery and discovering who you are and where your talents lie. It is also a great adventure story following Ty and his friends. This is the first book of the series so it will be interesting to see where the story goes.

[Andre Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

River of Crows is an entertaining mix of lightheartedness and danger. The likeable characters add to the fun. The book's target audience is middle-grade readers, but it can be enjoyed by adults as well. I've already picked up book two in the series.

[Adrianne Lemke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I enjoyed how Ty and Ayslenne's friendship developed, and the friends and allies they found along the way. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in an exciting new series for the YA audience - The Arcanium series.

This story was packed with adventure and magic and had me hooked from the start!

Now, I don't know if many of you know....but I have a fear of birds (black birds especially ...and crows feature heavily in that fear!) and I know that I should have guessed from the title - but there was a lot of focus on crows in this book!

Putting that fear aside, I loved the whole storyline and the way this flowed was perfect to keep younger readers engaged the whole way through.
The chapter lengths great for allocating a set amount of reading each day, but I challenge you to put this one down!

I loved our characters and the strange friendship that they developed.
I love this in a book, as it creates that mindset, outside of fiction, that all people are different and even those who at first don't seem like you'd get on well with, can really gel and become the best of friends.

Being a fantasy, we do have some world building to get through, but I thought this was really well woven into the storyline and perfectly described to create a clear vision in my head, immersing me in the magical new world.

A great start to this series and I can't wait to read on into book 2