For once there's a prince and a bodyguard, but absolutely no love triangle (and a cat named Barf!).

I've now read The Merciful Crow three times, and I think each time I like it more. The first time I read it was during the middle of a reading slump, so I didn't fully appreciate the story as much as I do now...but upon my third read, I'm super excited to read the sequel, and I really wish I would've picked it up sooner.
One of my favorite things about this book is the worldbuilding. The magic system is based on teeth; the magic is distributed throughout a caste system with Phoenixes at the top and Crows at the bottom. Fie is a Crow, part of the caste in charge of disposing of bodies afflicted by the plague. When she and her fellow Crows are roped into helping the crown prince and his bodyguard/body-double fake their deaths, Fie is thrown into a world of politics and corruption. The plot is well-paced and peppered with a handful of plot twists and action scenes. Overall, the book is quite tense and I found myself on the edge of my seat multiple times, despite the fact that I've read this before. The only reason I didn't continue the series in the past is because it doesn't really end on a cliffhanger.
I really like the dynamics between the characters, too. Fie is a wonderful protagonist. I enjoyed her narration style, her sense of justice, and her fiery personality. I liked how naturally her relationships progressed with the other characters. Tavin was interesting, too, and while he wasn't my absolute favorite, I loved the contrast between him and Jas. The few chapters where Fie and Jas are alone together were some of my favorites simply because of their clashing personalities and also because I find Jas really intriguing, and I want to know more about him.
The Merciful Crow is the first book in a YA fantasy duology featuring a unique magic system, a slowburn yet not overpowering romance, and delightful character dynamics.

4.25/5