To Clutch a Razor is Veronica Roth’s second entry in the Curse Bearer series and picks up not long after the end of When Among Crows. There might be some spoilers for the first book in this review, so proceed with caution if you have yet to finish book one. Dymitr has been separated from his bone sword, a weapon of the Holy Order formed from half his soul, and is beginning to suffer from it. Baba Jaga proposes a solution and it would involve Dymitr not only turning his back on his past but hurting those he loves.

In an attempt to help Dymitr out of his impossible situation, Ala suggests he instead steals his family’s book of curses that he is sworn to keep and use it as a bargaining chip with the all-powerful witch. This sets in motion a return to his family home in Poland and a daring heist at his beloved uncle’s funeral, all while hoping nobody detects he is no longer a Knight.

Back in Poland, Ala and Dymitr run into Niko, who is on a mission to kill a dangerous Knight known as the Razor. Exposing more of Dymitr’s secrets and past, Niko discovers the Razor is a close family member to his newly-monstrous, almost-boyfriend. To Clutch a Razor places these characters each into their own difficult circumstances where they’re forced to choose between their own needs and those of others.

To Clutch a Razor has an overall darker feel to it than When Among Crows, as it challenges the reader to consider whether we can continue to love someone knowing they’re a terrible person, and whether that makes us as culpable as them. The Knights we see are all too often cruel and heartless, even though we know they’ve been indoctrinated over centuries to believe the lies they shroud themselves in. Can that ever excuse the zealotry they bring to torturing others?

“Screaming is for the first moments of pain, the shocking ones, the ones that happen before pain is so layered over itself that there’s no energy left to scream.”

With When Among Crows, I felt some aspects were a little rushed and that has largely been rectified in To Clutch a Razor. There is still a lot of room to grow these characters and the book continues in the feel of an origin story. All the good aspects of the first book remain, as well as bringing in some greater depth to Dymitr and the history of the Holy Order. It is still novella-length and offers a short, punchy journey into shadowy folklore and dark dealings.

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