The Storm Crow

In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, 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 everything 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, the sisters devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and win back what was taken from them.

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Cat's Review 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I pre-ordered this book for myself, one, because of the cover, two because I had heard a lot of noise around it! When it came into our store I took it home and I read it all in one sitting, front to back cover, having a delightful experienced the entire time. This may be Josephson's debut, but she certainly writes like a veteran author who knows how to create a beautiful world, incredible characters, and an enrapturing plotline.

While reading I noticed one thing, that I usually don't notice or care to notice because I like being surprised- it feels like Josephson is setting this story up for certain things far in advance and I am incredibly delighted by what I'm sure is going to come of it. The first time the Prince Ericen, the Illucian Crown Prince, is introduced, and then the further into the beginning of their acquaintanceship they got, I began to notice hints of one of my favorite relationship tropes, which is of course, enemies to lovers. But, with the genuine bad blood between their countries, it wouldn't make sense for that to be resolved in the first book of the series, so it feels incredibly realistic and exciting and I have to say, way to go to her for that!

So, if you're into an incredibly fantasy with the potential of a delicious enemies to lovers relationship, then read no more because this book is for you! But if you need a bit more convincing, welcome to the rest of my review.

Essentially, this is an explosive book right from the get go. We're introduced to this beautiful, incredible world and a fun character right as she's flying one of the giant, magical crows her culture depends on, and then disaster strikes, at the hands of the Illucians. I won't spoil, but, the point of the matter is, everything is ruined and her future is bleak. Her sister becomes Queen and she has severe depression.

Time skips, and Thia is struggling still, which of course, depression doesn't just go away because the mourning period has passed, and she has to choose to either abandon her people or do as she's told by marrying their greatest enemy.

Thia's depression I think, was the hardest hitting part of the book, and the most well written. She does not simply sit around and weep and then the moment one good thing happens, she's all better again. No, Thia struggles, she fights, and she falls and she continues moving forward, for her sister, for her people, and for the storm crow egg she finds buried in the rubble.

Her depression affects her throughout the book, and I imagine, will continue to in the next, because that's just how it goes. But she is still a strong, incredible character, and she's here to stay.

In this world, Illucia is a conquering kingdom, run by a Queen hell bent on revenge for something awful that happened that everyone has a different story for. Rhodaire is one of the few that had been remaining strong against them, until Illucia struck. Not much of the world is explored here in book one, just Rhodaire and Illucia, but the other kingdoms are introduced briefly, and they are involved, and they will be here to fight in the next. They aren't given just names, and in fact we get a tiny brief bit of history for each one, explaining why they respond the way they do when contacted, and as characters are introduced from each one, as they are trapped in the conquering kingdom, we learn even more from them.

Nothing feels distant or separate, it all feels very connected and linked, like a real world and it's history, which is my favorite part of the book, beyond that favorite trope I mention earlier. It's beautifully written and constructed, and the author clearly loves what she's doing, pulling on my heartstrings and giving me everything I've wanted from a book for a while. She scratched that literature itch for me, which makes this a five star book in my books.

I think this is gonna be a good choice for any YA readers, but especially if you love the richness of Leigh Bardugo's books, and the romance between Alina and the Darkling, but not quite as hard line good v evil. It also reminded me heavily of the beautiful writing in Nocturna by Maya Motayne, so if you haven't read that, but you read this and love it, that's your next recommendation from me!

Happy reading and Happy Book Birthday to The Storm Crow!

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