SUMMER SPRINT: The Storm Crow Book Review

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson
Publication Date: July 9^th, 2019

TW: depression, self-harm, abuse (mental & physical)

I initially requested this book because I saw the author talking about it on Twitter and got hyped for it. Once I was approved though, it took me a minute to pick it up because that’s how I am with fantasy sometimes. Anyway, I’m really glad I picked it up sooner than later because I ended up really enjoying it. The Storm Crow follows Anthia, or Thia, as she deals with the travesty that befell her people 6 months ago, when their capital was attacked, and all their magical giant crows were slaughtered. In the aftermath of their loss, Thia must figure out who she is, who she wants to be, and how she can possibly help her country and her people.

What I Liked:

• There’s something different about The Storm Crow. It brings an awareness/focus to mental health, that is unusual for fantasy, but quite refreshing. Thia is constantly supported by her best friend through her depression and assumed guilt.
• I enjoyed all the tough female characters in this book. Most of the cast is female (so far), and I hope to see this trend continue. I really love reading about strong women kicking ass.
• I like that the main character, Thia, isn’t the queen in this story. She’s actually her little sister, which was a nice change. It’s still a story of a leader trying to save her people, but it follows an alternate route than usual.

What I Didn’t Like:

• I am disappointed we didn’t see much of the legendary Magic Crows, but I expect they’ll be making a large contribution to the plot later on in the series.
• There’s a love triangle, or something close to it in this book, which I’m not overly fond of. I’m leaving it at that though, otherwise I might spoil something.

Recap:

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and kept me hooked the entire time. I can’t wait for magical shenanigans to resume and (hopefully) increase. The Storm Crow left me with so many questions, and I’m desperate for answers. Really, the worst part about this book is that I’m going to have to wait an unknown amount of time for the sequel to be released (no publishing dates yet).

5/5 stars

xoxo, Bree

*Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*