June 2024 GN's/Novellas/Manga/Poetry/Nonfiction BOTM - When Among Crows, by Veronica Roth

[Alaina]

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.

**This BOTM thread will be open until July 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Laura]

Chapter 1
(view spoiler)[
It's been a while since I read anything fantasy. I forgot the beginning is usually confusing with the world building. (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

Laura wrote: "Chapter 1

It's been a while since I read anything fantasy. I forgot the beginning is usually confusing with the world building. "

I'm glad I am not the only one. I cannot figure up from down at this point.

[Felicia]

End of Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ It is interesting so far. I am not sure how I am feeling about it overall though. Usually I have a rating in my head pretty close to the beginning of the book and this time I don't. I don't understand Dymitr's role in all of this yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

End of chapter 4
(view spoiler)[
Dymitr is on a mission that he doesn't want his sister involved in- this I understand
He's determined to do this despite circumstances that usually involve pain.
The rest is still confusing
Hoping it all sorts out as we continue (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

Page 78 Thoughts (view spoiler)[ I find it really interesting that the "creatures" for lack of a better word, have inserted themselves into the modern world this way. The ones that feed on sorrow own funeral homes, the ones that feed on fear own theaters that show scary movies, and the ones that feed on anger run underground boxing rings. I really like a real world explanation of things of legend. (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

Page 108 all of a sudden it's making more sense.

[Felicia]

Wow. It really wrapped up perfectly for me. I really enjoyed the folklore and the old world meets the new.

[Laura]

Awesome! Let's hope the same for me
I'm going to read some now before bed!

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 1-3

(view spoiler)[ While the creatures are different to the usual fantasy books, I want to see more of them in action - hopefully that’ll happen now with the fights.

The names of the characters are putting me off a bit because it talks about their Polish heritage and yet Dymitr sounds more Russian and Elza and Aleksja sound made up.

I’m still not sure about the story. The plot is a bit slow and I’m still not sure what to expect. The characters are fine but I hope they’ll be developed more.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Felicia wrote: “End of Chapter 3…”

I don’t really understand Dymitr either.

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 4-6

(view spoiler)[ Is this book part of a world created by this author? There are things being introduced, like Sha, without going into much detail and making it seem like there’s more to find out, like with Niko.

I really liked the scene with Dymitr and Niko, and I’m really hoping there’s going to be more.

Could it have been Elza who sent the crows?
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 7-9

(view spoiler)[ I thought that it was obvious that Dymitr is a Knight, but I’m curious to find out what his intentions are. Was he one of the Knight he talked about that was sent to kill Lena and her mother? Someone asked him what he was looking for and he said something about unmaking - does he want to stop being a Knight?

Also, how does the fern flower work? Is it going to cure Ala’s curse or is it going to break the curse so no one else has to have it?
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 10-12

(view spoiler)[ I liked finding out Dymitr’s story, but I’d be interested in seeing him learn to live his life as a zmora now. Also, it would be interesting to see his family’s reaction to his change.

This book was fine, but too much of it you didn’t really know what was happening and not enough of it showed what’s going to happen now.
(hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Halfway
(view spoiler)[
I'm halfway and still really have no idea what's going on except Dymitr is on this quest. It's interesting, I don't not like it but I'm hoping it all comes together in the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Up to chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ I enjoyed the scene inside the Theater... I liked the magic and riddles. Of course I didn't figure them out (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
I was confused for much of this story but interested and then enjoyed it more once I got to the theater scene. The story makes sense once you've read the whole novella.
3 stars for me
(hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

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