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A review by olivialandryxo
The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Storm Crow has been on my tbr for some time, and finally I checked it out on Libby, an impulse decision. I’m so glad I did. From the beginning, I was hooked. I love the world and characters Josephson created, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this.
The idea of crows having magic and essentially powering a country is so cool. You need to water your crops? There’s a crow for that. Heal a wound? There’s a crow for that too. Maybe you’re fighting a war for your country. There’s even a crow for that. There are seven different kinds of crows, each connected to a different sector of Rhodaire and tasked with helping the country run smoothly. It was very creative and I liked it immensely.
As a whole, the world-building was great. Illucia has fought and taken over all the nearby countries except Rhodaire, which is next on the list to add to their empire. It’s a bit basic for a fantasy, as many books technically have a similar base, but Josephson made her version unique, intricate, and fascinating to read about. I almost always enjoy political tension, so long as it’s not dense and boring. That was never a concern here.
One thing in The Storm Crow that I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen in a YA fantasy—or any fantasy, for that matter—is a protagonist with depression. When Illucia attacks Rhodaire and causes major problems, Thia spirals into a depressed state that lasts for six months before she is forced to take action. Throughout the book she regains her will to fight and also fights the nagging desire to hide in bed until everything is said and done. This could’ve gone really wrong, but it was handled with care and ended up working out well. I could really relate to Thia in this regard, and seeing her stand up for herself, her friends, and her country while dealing with her own mental health was truly admirable. Team Thia all the way!
I also really loved Kiva, Thia’s best friend and bodyguard. She’s supportive and snarky and will absolutely fight anyone she doesn’t like or that hurts Thia. Their friendship is amazing and among the best I’ve read in any fantasy story.
Unfortunately, there is a love triangle of sorts between Thia, Ericen, and Caylus. One of them has unrequited feelings for Thia, who falls in love with the other. I won’t give any more details due to spoilers, but I will say this: when Caylus was introduced, I liked him but was wary that something like the above situation would happen. Even though I was right, both Ericen and Caylus ultimately ended up being complex characters that I liked and/or appreciated for various reasons. I think there’s a lot more to one in particular, and I’m curious to see how all the relationships develop in the sequel.
On that note, there’s so much to be addressed in the sequel. While the whole book was entertaining, the last five chapters were especially intense and unexpected in more ways than one. I have absolutely no clue what any of these twists will lead to, but I’m certainly curious to find out.
I think I’ve said everything I can about The Storm Crow. I definitely want to buy my own copy, and I’ll be reading the sequel as soon as my hold on it comes in. Please read The Storm Crow, y’all!!
Representation:
The idea of crows having magic and essentially powering a country is so cool. You need to water your crops? There’s a crow for that. Heal a wound? There’s a crow for that too. Maybe you’re fighting a war for your country. There’s even a crow for that. There are seven different kinds of crows, each connected to a different sector of Rhodaire and tasked with helping the country run smoothly. It was very creative and I liked it immensely.
As a whole, the world-building was great. Illucia has fought and taken over all the nearby countries except Rhodaire, which is next on the list to add to their empire. It’s a bit basic for a fantasy, as many books technically have a similar base, but Josephson made her version unique, intricate, and fascinating to read about. I almost always enjoy political tension, so long as it’s not dense and boring. That was never a concern here.
One thing in The Storm Crow that I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen in a YA fantasy—or any fantasy, for that matter—is a protagonist with depression. When Illucia attacks Rhodaire and causes major problems, Thia spirals into a depressed state that lasts for six months before she is forced to take action. Throughout the book she regains her will to fight and also fights the nagging desire to hide in bed until everything is said and done. This could’ve gone really wrong, but it was handled with care and ended up working out well. I could really relate to Thia in this regard, and seeing her stand up for herself, her friends, and her country while dealing with her own mental health was truly admirable. Team Thia all the way!
I also really loved Kiva, Thia’s best friend and bodyguard. She’s supportive and snarky and will absolutely fight anyone she doesn’t like or that hurts Thia. Their friendship is amazing and among the best I’ve read in any fantasy story.
Unfortunately, there is a love triangle of sorts between Thia, Ericen, and Caylus. One of them has unrequited feelings for Thia, who falls in love with the other. I won’t give any more details due to spoilers, but I will say this: when Caylus was introduced, I liked him but was wary that something like the above situation would happen. Even though I was right, both Ericen and Caylus ultimately ended up being complex characters that I liked and/or appreciated for various reasons. I think there’s a lot more to one in particular, and I’m curious to see how all the relationships develop in the sequel.
On that note, there’s so much to be addressed in the sequel. While the whole book was entertaining, the last five chapters were especially intense and unexpected in more ways than one. I have absolutely no clue what any of these twists will lead to, but I’m certainly curious to find out.
I think I’ve said everything I can about The Storm Crow. I definitely want to buy my own copy, and I’ll be reading the sequel as soon as my hold on it comes in. Please read The Storm Crow, y’all!!
Representation:
- protagonist of color with depression
- gay side characters
- side characters of color
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Self harm
This book contains detailed descriptions of depression, as well as occasional descriptions of fire/arson and war.