Dazzled by Books

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth follows a quest to break a curse, blending urban fantasy with elements of Polish folklore. On paper, it’s a compelling premise — myth, magic, and a dangerous journey all wrapped into a novella‑length package. But despite the intriguing setup, this story didn’t quite work for me.

The novella incorporates Polish folklore throughout its narrative, which should have added depth and texture. Instead, I often found myself confused. The worldbuilding felt thin, and the magic system lacked the clarity and background needed to fully understand the stakes. With such a short format, every detail matters, and I kept wishing for more context to ground the story.

I’ll admit that urban fantasy isn’t usually my favorite, so this book already had a bit of a hurdle to clear. The blend of modern setting and mythic elements can be exciting, but here it didn’t quite click for me. The atmosphere felt underdeveloped, and I struggled to connect with the tone.

The biggest challenge was not connecting with the characters. I didn’t feel invested in their journey or their relationships, which made it hard to care about the outcome of the curse or the emotional beats along the way. In a novella, strong character work is essential, and I didn’t find enough here to pull me in.

While When Among Crows has an intriguing premise and a cultural angle that could have been incredibly compelling, the execution fell short for me. The lack of worldbuilding, unclear magic system, and my own disconnect from the characters made this a difficult read. Ultimately, I wasn’t a fan.

Readers who enjoy urban fantasy novellas or who are especially drawn to Polish folklore may still find something to appreciate, but this one simply wasn’t the right fit for me.