When Among Crows | Veronica Roth

"that kind of sacrifice creates a debt, and there's nothing magic likes better then the great hollow of a debt."

    Look at that cover! How could I have possibly skipped this? But also… folklore based books are a weakness of mine, and this one in steeped in Slavic stories which brings it that much closer to home.

    Dymitr comes from a long-line of hunters who put their souls at risk to rid the world of monsters. But his newest task isn’t an easy one- find, and kill, the head witch, Baba Jaga. Dymitr works with a pair of unlikely allies, Ala and Niko, to seek out the witch, who each have their own reasons for seeking out Baba Jaga. I loved the mystery and the slow reveal of it all, truly engrossing.

    Following an unlikely crew of three very different characters who carry three different family burdens, this is a gorgeous and captivating urban fantasy tale about regret, repentance, and responsibility. I was not prepared for the deep commentary in this book about immigration, cultural ties, and Christian imperialism. 

    It's richly layered magic in the fabric of Chicago's mundane realities.  I loved Roth's take on Baba Jaga and the different side seldom seen in American depictions of her. All the characters felt real despite not getting to spend a lot of time with them. I was thoroughly hooked on everything going on as we moved from event to event over the 36 or so hours that take place in the story.

    I wish this was longer. Not because it felt incomplete or because it suffered from world building or character development due to the length, but because I just want... more. I want more in this world. I want more with these characters - and thankfully, there's a sequel coming out later in the year.