The Merciful Crow is the first book in The Merciful Crow series, a thrilling young adult fantasy novel written by Margaret Owen. This book was released a couple of days ago—on July 30, 2019—and was published by Henry Holt. I want to thank the publisher and FFBC Tours for generously providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

This review is spoiler free.

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Synopsis

A future chieftain

Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.

A fugitive prince

When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses—and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns.

A too-cunning bodyguard

Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?

• Author: Margaret Owen
• Publisher: Henry Holt
• Publication Date: July 30, 2019
• Book Length: 384 pages
• Genre: YA Fantasy

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LINK TO THE BOOKS

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Review

This riveting story will bring you into a world ruled by castes—where a royal, a guard, and a chieftain girl form an unlikely alliance to set their world free while protecting it from a great menace. As their world unravels, they are forced to put their social differences aside and run for their lives. As romance blossoms, the fight is merciless.

This book is officially one of my favorites this year. The world-building is extremely well done. While the caste system is not unique, it is well thought out. The magic system is different in its execution. It makes you want to know more about the history of the magic and its people, or even how magic impacts the characters’ lives.

The pacing is great, and even though at times the story slows down, the world makes you want to know more. The prose is also beautiful, and the book is a true page-turner. As for the characters, I love Fie and Tavin from the very beginning. Fie is a fierce character with honorable goals but is thrown into a fight that isn’t hers to begin with. Tavin is funny and witty. Jasimir grew on me after part one. I also love that the romance between two beloved characters broke a few standards. This was refreshing.

This book wraps up nicely, but I can’t wait to read the next installment. This book can be dark at times and contains a few gruesome details. Honestly, I love it! It also touches a few strong themes, such as prejudice and social disparities. This book deserves a five star for me, as it checkmarks everything I enjoy in young adult fantasy novels.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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About Margaret Owen

Born and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, Margaret Owen spent her childhood haunting the halls of Powell’s Books. After earning her degree in Japanese, her love of espresso called her north to Seattle, where she worked in everything from thrift stores to presidential campaigns. The common thread between every job can be summed up as: lessons were learned.

She now spends her days wrestling disgruntled characters onto the page, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. (There is surprisingly little difference between the two.)

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Giveaway

Prize: Win a final copy of The Merciful Crow + a book-themed make-up bag (US/CAN Only)

Starts: July 30^th2019 – Ends: August 13^th2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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