If you have been wondering where all the fantasy books in YA are that need more birds, then be prepared to be awed by The Storm Crow. It’s a book full of magic, secrecy, and our attempts to thrawt destiny.
Summary
In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life…until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.
That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother’s death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.
But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Edelweiss. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Storm Crow starts with battle, fire, and the sound of crows screaming. There is so much to love about The Storm Crow from the intricate and magical world building, the depression representation, the way love can cause us to be vulnerable, and if we have what it takes to find the spark within us. It begins at a moment when the world is ripped out beneath us, when everything changes in the fire, and nothing we knew is the same.
And it builds into a crescendo, a plot of deception, people with secrets close to their heart, and a girl fighting for the future of her kingdom. Which is even more emotional considering her grief, the way we are able to know her intensity as she mourns the land, the culture, and the vision of the future which was ripped away from her. Thrown into a future she never chose for herself, Thia has to find her way against a seemingly insurmountable enemy.
Overall,
What solidified my love for this book is the journey Thia embarks upon in the story. Instead of being defined by the events of the past, she uses them as a reminder of her strength, as memories, and motivation. There are complex relationships – between her sister, her fiancee, and more – all while they struggle to fight for a future where they have the freedom to exist and love.
Find The Storm Crow on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, and The Book Depository.