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The Storm Crow Review

by Cynthia Bujnicki

Incredibly fast-paced, The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson follows Princess Anthia, who is unlike most princesses. The Storm Crow has an unforgettable opening that focuses on Anthia flying a giant crow, a crow of magic. It is a grand opening that sets up this world of magic while also breathing such vitality into Anthia.

The Storm Crow Review

Storm Crow Cover

Anthia is a princess, but she does not strike readers that way because Josephson steps away from princess cliches. She has spunk. She has a down to earth attitude that makes her a princess of the people, allowing readers to gravitate towards her.

Anthia has a ferocity towards her as well that begins as an ember before flourishing alongside her mental and emotional journey through the story.

What is also compelling about the character and the story is how Josephson addresses mental illness. Anthia lost everything in a single night, leading to bouts of depression. She is not just sad; she is broken; the Illucian Empire took everything she cherished in one swell swoop.

Sometimes Superficial

While it is good to see the story address this, there are times when it comes off as superficial. The emotional landscape surrounding Anthia does present depression to the reader well enough.

However, the way other characters deal with Anthia makes the emotional range compact and takes away some of the depth. There is this barrier between Anthia and the other characters that stop the scenes from being impactful, mainly because the other characters lack the emotional range necessary to compliment Anthia’s pain.

Josephson could have made those scenes more impactful and brought out stronger insight into mental illness. Nevertheless, when the reader is left alone with Anthia, they can feel what she feels, impacting the reader.

As for the story itself, it follows a very steady pace, moving in a way to build the story up. The pacing, while fast, is thoughtful. The rising tension between the characters, the way their dynamics shift encourage the reader to be invested in the characters. It has the imagination to it and a breath of unique magic.

There is also powerful symbolism when it comes to the characters and the storytelling. Anthia is from a tropical kingdom, and her depiction makes her a person of color while her neighbors, those that conquered her land are from the icy lands of the north. It is reminiscent of the European invasion of Africa and offers readers greater depth and a complex view of the characters and their origins. This deeper subtext allows the reader to grasp the complexities of the story while also opening their eyes to the past.

Final Thoughts

The Storm Crow offers readers a fresh new take on magic and warring kingdoms as it follows a fierce protagonist dealing with the loss of everything she ever knew. 

Looking for more great reviews?

Check out my review of The Dark Tide here.

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