Hello everyone! I am so sorry for once again making myself scarce… I’ve have been super busy. To start, our online crystal selling business is going well. Mystic Dragon’s Lair is a magical new adventure where I can spread my love and joy of gems and minerals with others who feel the same. I think the best part is being able to give people stones that will help them with various issues that are having. Aside from that exciting adventure, I am editing a client’s book! It has so much potential and I am honored to be a part of making it something bigger.
My oldest son (8) has gone back to school. I have also stepped up to be his den leader this year, yay Bear den of pack 28! We have one other boy so far!!!! Which means hopefully we won’t be a one boy den this year. I have so many wonderful ideas planned. I hope to make it a great year. And…I have to start potty training my youngest (3). See…now you know what I mean when I say “I’ve been busy.”
I have not had as much time to read but I am trying to get back into a rhythm. This includes blogging more regularly again and being more active on social media. So…let’s talk about one of my recent reads shall we?!
The Storm Crow (The Storm Crow #1)
Author: Kayln Josephson
Published: July 9th, 2019
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Book Length: 352 Pages
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
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Buy the book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository (Use my referral ID: TheBibliophagist)
Disclaimer: I won a copy of this book from TheWriteReads through a giveaway. This in no way impacts my review.
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.
The contrasting colors of this cover are what really grab your attention first! Look at those eyes!!!! Also, the way the beak of another crow goes through the ‘O’ in Crow of the title, it is perfect. I truly love this cover so much.
Yes, that cover is super gorgeous but the story writing is as well.
The author dives right into the action with this story, wasting no time throwing danger at the characters with every turn of the page. The idea of riding crows was entirely new to me and all I could think of was “How big are these Crows?!?!”
There are only two explanations… The people are tiny like a fae or the crows’ magic makes then huge! I’m thinking the latter is more likely. Either way, the concept is super cool! I’d love a magic crow that I could take joy rides on. Her jow ride and confrontation were cut short when her town was invaded. Now she’s lost everything but as if that wasn’t bad enough she must marry the prince of the people who were the cause for the loss of the crows.
I really love that the topic of mental illness is discussed in this book. It is something that is so common but not found in young adult books as much as it should be. This book might have paved the path for others like it to come in the future. This is something that I take to heart, as someone who has struggled with it int he past, I think it is needed and characters who struggle with it really hit home for me.
This story is packed witch action and I hated to put it down. Each page brought something new and I really felt for the characters. Some are more misunderstood than we are lead to believe in the beginning. Fast-paced, I finished this book quickly but I need more!!!! I will mention there were a few small scenes that I did feel slowed down the pace but they were not overpowering. I was able to keep reading because I needed to know. I need to know what comes next.
Thia: I connected with her on such a deep level…I think she is my favorite character in any most recent book. She is strong and weak at the same time. I lost my father, in front of me, when I was 17. I know what Thia feels and that pain resonates with me. I felt the pain in my chest, I wanted to just sit in her room with her, not talking, just to be there for her. Josephson wrote about the truth of PTSD and depression. She did not sugar coat it and make it pretty (THANK YOU!). It is ugly and hard and not our choice. She’s spent her entire life fighting for the approval of her mother, just as I did for my father’s. I think this book will always hold a special place in my heart because of that.
Kiva: The most important supporting character in my opinion! She is the only person who, throughout this entire book, fully understands and supports Thia. That person…I can’t explain how important that type of person is to someone like Thia. The bond between Thia and Kiva is beautiful. The best relationship in this book…not romantic that is.
This book does have a lot of romance, and no it is not all woman and man! I love seeing Kiva fall for someone, it gives me that first love kind of feeling…the one where you get butterflies and feel on a cloud. It is sweet and refreshing to see. Though it was sweet, I’m not sure it was needed. It felt a little rushed, in my opinion. The LGBTQ relationship is there but it lacks real development. If it was going to take place, it could have been shaped a little better.
I’m not even going into it but there is a love triangle. *GASP* I actually enjoy them when done right and I think Josephson did a beautiful job.
Not only did the author create one beautiful village but two. Thia’s town might have to be my favorite…I mean the magic there is incredible. Take that away and they have nothing. These crows were their lifeline. They were given a beautiful source of magic and became all too dependent on it. The people depend on one another and this is vastly different from Ilucia. Ilucia is a power-hungry town full of manipulative and cruel people. Bloodshed and war are commonplace.
I think that the worldbuilding here is some of the best I’ve seen. The contrast between the villages is amazing and the descriptions make you feel as if you are there alongside Thia.
This is by far on my list of top 10 books I’ve read this year so far. I think it was the combination of immersive worldbuilding and in-depth characters that really drew me in! I know I saw this a lot but…do not miss this! With the mental health content, I think this will be a book that paves way for others like it, not afraid to give their characters problems and mental health issues. I devoured this book but I think I’ll have to read it again, it was that good and I just can’t wait for the sequel.
What do you think? Is this book something you’d enjoy to read? Have you read it, what did you think?
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I am so glad you enjoyed this book, it is one of my favorite reads of 2019 as well! I remember wondering how big the crows were too, I wish it was explained a little earlier in the book from a worldbiulding perspective hahaha.