The Storm Crow

!!!Spoiler Warning!!! If you haven’t read this book yet, I give away some key spoilers!

The Storm Crow

by Kalyn Josephson

I won’t let my scars define me.

I thought this book was brilliant.
I cannot believe this is Josephson‘s debut novel! It’s only gonna get better from here on out!
There is so much depth to the characters that I was blown away, and the story doesn’t suffer for time spent in developing them. The tale is a good strong one, with political intrigue, danger around every turn, magic and mystery. I loved it.

There’s nothing wrong with being sad. Everyone feels that way one time or another.

I think what really stands out for me is the realistic way in which depression was written about. I’ve suffered from depression since I was a child, and I’ve never seen it written about in such detail and hit the nail straight on the head. I was completely and utterly, 100% on Thia’s side through this story. She grabbed me right in the feels and wouldn’t let go.
She’s not some mighty warrior of a heroine who can stand tall through everything, but nor is she a cowering princess waiting to be rescued. She’s just an ordinary teenage girl who feels out of her depth most of the time, overwhelmed by everything happening, and still she finds the courage to get out of bed each morning. And for someone with depression, let me tell you, that’s a harder battle than anything fought with swords.
I was awed by the way this was written. I loved every page, and enjoyed seeing Thia transcend her darkest moments and become strong again.

Feeling this way—it wasn’t my choice. I couldn’t make it stop. I’d tried.

The romantic interests are also something that threw me for a loop. I mean, there’s this prince. He’s a total asshole, but underneath it all he might not be so bad. Of course the princess falls for him completely, right?
Well, not in Thia’s case, no. This is a girl who can empathize with anyone, but she won’t give her heart up so easily. Besides, just between you and me, I think handsome prince Ericen has a thing for Shearen than runs a little deeper than friendship. But you didn’t hear that from me, okay?

Maybe I’m not half as bad as you think, Princess.

The Crows are the main stars of this book, though. These creatures are so wonderfully inventive and unique. Each different species of crow has control over different elements, and the people of Rhodaire have built up their entire kingdom around them. These crows seem to be, pretty much, the only magical things in an otherwise mundane world. It’s amazing to read about them, and it almost feels as though you can reach out and touch them, the details are so vivid.
I would give anything to be a Crow Rider, but if I had a choice, I’d definitely pick a Water Crow.

Don’t let her silence the storm inside you.
I am more than my emotions, more than my depression and fear.

This book was completely enthralling from the first page to the last. The plot moved along quickly, with enough happening in-between to keep me tearing through the pages. I felt depression on these pages. I also felt strength. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I’m already a huge fan.

Villain Rating

The villain of this book is the beautiful and vicious Queen Razel of Illucia. This lady comes from a kingdom that rewards strength and bloodshed, and frowns on the weak. Their god demands blood sacrifice from them, and she’s happy to give it. Razel is cruel and seems to relish the pain she inflicts on others, even on her own son.

But underneath everything Razel does is pain. Her family was wickedly murdered in front of her when she was a child, and everything she seems to do is a sort of revenge for that act. I can’t really say I blame her. Of course she hates the people who did this to her loved ones, of course she wants to hurt them, and of course she has trouble building close relationships now. She’s evil, but she has a good reason. She makes a fabulous villain. I loved her. 9/10

 

Happy Reading,

Claire