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abinthebooks 's review for:
The Merciful Crow
by Margaret Owen
*2.5
”Pa was taking to long to cut the boys’ throat.”
Well if that isn’t a way to start a book, I don’t know what is.
The Merciful Crow is the first book in a YA fantasy duology. In this world, their are caste systems, and the Crows are the lowest of the low. Crows, in this world, are not worth anything to anyone. Their only job is to kill people with the plague, so more don’t get infected. Fie, our heroine, is training to be the chief of her kin, but all of her plans are spoiled when her kin has to smuggle the prince and his bodyguard across the country.
This book had much potential, but it ultimately fell flat for me. I’ve read this story numerous times before, by a handful of different authors. This book brings absolutely nothing new to the table. Many fantasy books have the caste system trope, evil ruler + we have to take him/her down, “forbidden romance”, and many have done it so much better than The Merciful Crow. This book had so many problems and things that needed edited before this should have been published.
The magic system makes absolutely no sense for the first 1/3 of this book. I didn’t understand a thing that was going on in here until the beginning of part 2. That’s being confused for over 130 pages. The caste systems made ultimately no sense until part 2, and the weird magic systems in each caste still don’t make sense to me. Apparently the Crow caste can use teeth magic? And then the Hawk caste can do witch’s magic? Or something? And then we’re talking about the dead gods and the convents, and we aren’t explained what those have anything to do with either. Yeah I don’t know because the magic system in here was awful.
Speaking of the bad magic system, let’s talk about the world building. While I can admit, that Margaret Own can paint a vivid picture of worlds through her descriptive writing, it didn’t mean I understood where the characters were or the world any bit. I don’t even know what this world is called, and if I think that says enough in itself. Their just wasn’t anything that described what was happening or where the characters were going. We had names of places, and we have a map, but that isn’t necessarily world building. I have to understand the important places, and the rulers of each kingdoms (I think their is only one? Rhusana or whatever, idk?), the world building was just nonexistent.
The romance in here was also really really cringey. There was absolutely no build up or chemistry between Tavin and Fie and it made me cringe. They got together after knowing each other for only 1 week? 2 weeks? It wasn’t realistic and it made me dislike both Tavin and Fie whenever they associated with each other. And then Fie risks everything for Tavin, and it ultimately fell flat for me.
Overall, this book wasn’t that good, but I have this weird thing where I need to finish book series even if I don’t like book 1. Also, kinda sad I’m leaving 2020 off on this note, but maybe that’s a sign that 2020 needs to go. Anyways, also sad I spent $10 on the paperback when I could have just got it from the library. I never claimed I was smart, ok?
”Pa was taking to long to cut the boys’ throat.”
Well if that isn’t a way to start a book, I don’t know what is.
The Merciful Crow is the first book in a YA fantasy duology. In this world, their are caste systems, and the Crows are the lowest of the low. Crows, in this world, are not worth anything to anyone. Their only job is to kill people with the plague, so more don’t get infected. Fie, our heroine, is training to be the chief of her kin, but all of her plans are spoiled when her kin has to smuggle the prince and his bodyguard across the country.
This book had much potential, but it ultimately fell flat for me. I’ve read this story numerous times before, by a handful of different authors. This book brings absolutely nothing new to the table. Many fantasy books have the caste system trope, evil ruler + we have to take him/her down, “forbidden romance”, and many have done it so much better than The Merciful Crow. This book had so many problems and things that needed edited before this should have been published.
The magic system makes absolutely no sense for the first 1/3 of this book. I didn’t understand a thing that was going on in here until the beginning of part 2. That’s being confused for over 130 pages. The caste systems made ultimately no sense until part 2, and the weird magic systems in each caste still don’t make sense to me. Apparently the Crow caste can use teeth magic? And then the Hawk caste can do witch’s magic? Or something? And then we’re talking about the dead gods and the convents, and we aren’t explained what those have anything to do with either. Yeah I don’t know because the magic system in here was awful.
Speaking of the bad magic system, let’s talk about the world building. While I can admit, that Margaret Own can paint a vivid picture of worlds through her descriptive writing, it didn’t mean I understood where the characters were or the world any bit. I don’t even know what this world is called, and if I think that says enough in itself. Their just wasn’t anything that described what was happening or where the characters were going. We had names of places, and we have a map, but that isn’t necessarily world building. I have to understand the important places, and the rulers of each kingdoms (I think their is only one? Rhusana or whatever, idk?), the world building was just nonexistent.
The romance in here was also really really cringey. There was absolutely no build up or chemistry between Tavin and Fie and it made me cringe. They got together after knowing each other for only 1 week? 2 weeks? It wasn’t realistic and it made me dislike both Tavin and Fie whenever they associated with each other. And then Fie risks everything for Tavin, and it ultimately fell flat for me.
Overall, this book wasn’t that good, but I have this weird thing where I need to finish book series even if I don’t like book 1. Also, kinda sad I’m leaving 2020 off on this note, but maybe that’s a sign that 2020 needs to go. Anyways, also sad I spent $10 on the paperback when I could have just got it from the library. I never claimed I was smart, ok?