When Among Crows

Veronica Roth

May 2024 · Macmillan Audio · Narrated by Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell

About this audiobook

This program features multicast narration.

When Among Crows is swift and striking, drawing from the deep well of Slavic folklore and asking if redemption and atonement can be found in embracing what we most fear.

We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.

Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill.

Pain is Ala’s inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. When Dymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.

Together they must fight against time and the wrath of the Chicago underworld. But Dymitr’s secrets—and his true motives—may be the thing that actually destroys them.

"Lovely, lush, and full of otherworldly longing, this modern fairytale about righteousness and the weight we bear for love is Roth at her most imaginative and ethereal."—Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

Ratings and reviews

I absolutely love this short urban fantasy. Roth does a great job incorporating creatures from Slavic mythology into her modern Chicago setting. I was surprised at the complexity of the three main characters, who I liked very much. I enjoyed how their stories were interwoven and slowly revealed, and I found the character arcs satisfying. For a violent story about “monsters” who consume fear, sorrow, & anger and the scary magic-wielding knights who hunt them, this was surprisingly touching.

Tugged my heart, holy marbles, I am left wishing this was a full novel. Despite what a short audiobook it was, i enjoyed it. I can't find the words to explain this book, but the folklore & fantasy descriptive world really pulls you away. The audiobook had 3 narrators, which I loved because you could definitely tell them apart, and each one had a wonderful voice that made the story flow smoothly. I also like the accents.

When Among Crows is an urban fantasy novel about a hunter who needs to reach the legendary witch Baba Yaga to ask for her help. This is a small book that packs quite a punch. Dymitr needs help from the monsters of the Chicago underworld to reach the famous Baba Yaga. He recruits Ala and Niko on his quest, but he's keeping his true mission secret, which is a threat to the entire alliance. This tale has it all, including Slavic folklore, monsters, angst, and a dash of romance.

About the author

Veronica Roth (she/her) is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four: A Divergent Collection), the Carve the Mark duology (Carve the Mark, The Fates Divide), The End and Other Beginnings collection of short fiction, Chosen Ones, Arch-Conspirator, and many short stories and essays. She lives in Chicago.