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When among Crows

When among Crows

NovellaUrban FantasyDark Fantasy
Pages
166
Published
2024
Language
English

Synopsis

On the night of Kupala, Dymitr slips into Chicago's hidden, monstrous underworld on a desperate mission: pluck the legendary fern flower and trade it to a cursed creature for a path to the witch Baba Jaga. His search pulls in Ala, a zmora whose bloodline curse is slowly killing her, and Niko, a strzygoń who wields protective magic at the cost of his own lifespan.

Over one impossible 36-hour quest drawn from Slavic folklore, the three collide with monsters, magic, and the weight of what the old world demands of those it curses. The first book in Veronica Roth's Curse Bearer series, exploring identity, immigration, and belonging.

Prose complexity
4/10

Vibe

DarkTenseAtmosphericMysteriousAdventurousNostalgic
QuestSacrifice

Genres

Urban Fantasy Dark Fantasy Folklore Fantasy

About the author

V
Veronica Roth

Veronica Roth is an American novelist who was born in New York City and grew up primarily in Barrington, Illinois. She graduated from Northwestern University and now lives in Chicago. She is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four: A Divergent Collection), which was adapted into three feature films, as well as the Carve the Mark duology, and the more recent Poster Girl, Chosen Ones, Arch-Conspirator, When Among Crows, To Clutch...

Characters

DymitrProtagonist

A man on a 36-hour quest through Chicago's magical underworld to find Baba Jaga.

AlaProtagonist

A zmora afflicted with a bloodline curse that forces visions of death upon her.

Niko (Curse Bearer)Supporting

A strzygoń who wields protective magic at the cost of his own lifespan.

All characters in When among Crows

Frequently asked questions

  • Is this book part of a larger series?

    The author has confirmed plans for a third installment in this series, though the timeline for future releases remains flexible due to other ongoing projects.

  • Why did the author choose to write this as a novella?

    The author utilized the novella format to maintain a compressed 36-hour timeline and a small, intimate cast of characters, which she felt allowed for greater experimentation and a tighter narrative focus.

  • Does the title have a specific cultural origin?

    The title is derived from a Polish proverb that translates to the idea that when one is among crows, one must caw as they do, reflecting the story's exploration of assimilation and hidden identities.

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