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Girl Among Crows
The Door Must Remain Open
When two boys vanish from her hometown, Daphne Gauge notices uncanny parallels to her brother’s disappearance 30 years earlier. Symbols of an ancient Norse god. Rumors of a promise to reward the town’s faithful with wealth and power, for a price. She warns her husband that another sacrifice is imminent, but just like last time, no one believes her.
That leaves Daphne with a desperate choice: investigate with limited resources, or give in to the FBI’s request for an interview. For years, they’ve wanted a member of the Gauge family to go on record about the tragedy back in 1988. If she agrees to a deposition now, Daphne must confess her family’s dark secrets. But she also might have one last chance to unmask the killer from back then . . . and now.
For readers who enjoy Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Joshilyn Jackson, Riley Sager, Jennifer McMahon, and Simone St. James.
When two boys vanish from her hometown, Daphne Gauge notices uncanny parallels to her brother’s disappearance 30 years earlier. Symbols of an ancient Norse god. Rumors of a promise to reward the town’s faithful with wealth and power, for a price. She warns her husband that another sacrifice is imminent, but just like last time, no one believes her.
That leaves Daphne with a desperate choice: investigate with limited resources, or give in to the FBI’s request for an interview. For years, they’ve wanted a member of the Gauge family to go on record about the tragedy back in 1988. If she agrees to a deposition now, Daphne must confess her family’s dark secrets. But she also might have one last chance to unmask the killer from back then . . . and now.
For readers who enjoy Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Joshilyn Jackson, Riley Sager, Jennifer McMahon, and Simone St. James.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
30 people are currently reading
6520 people want to read
About the author
Brendon Vayo
1 book57 followersBrendon Vayo was born in Okinawa, Japan, and now lives in Austin, TX. He has a wonderful wife and three children. The kids keep him awake at night, so he hopes his books do the same to you. Girl Among Crows is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 8, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
GIRL AMONG CROWS by Brendon Vayo is an interestingly unique and atmospheric horror story with elements of suspense and mystery with Norse mythology influence.
This is a difficult book to review because I am afraid of giving away any important plot points. You have to give this book a chance to get going because at first a lot of information is given that did not make sense to me, but it is relevant later, and it will come together and move more quickly as the story progresses. The mystery unravels in two timelines, Daphne’s past and present, with the disappearance of young boys in both timelines and the Brotherhood of Crows playing an important part in both. Daphne is so complex because she wants to solve the disappearances, but at the same time she would be betraying those closest to her. One word that I did look up that helped in my understanding early on in the story was “blot” which is Old Norse for an exchange in which they did a blood sacrifice to the gods in order to get something in return.
I am very glad I gave this book a try because it did turn out to be an engrossing read. If you are into dark horror with suspense and mystery this is definitely the book for you.
GIRL AMONG CROWS by Brendon Vayo is an interestingly unique and atmospheric horror story with elements of suspense and mystery with Norse mythology influence.
This is a difficult book to review because I am afraid of giving away any important plot points. You have to give this book a chance to get going because at first a lot of information is given that did not make sense to me, but it is relevant later, and it will come together and move more quickly as the story progresses. The mystery unravels in two timelines, Daphne’s past and present, with the disappearance of young boys in both timelines and the Brotherhood of Crows playing an important part in both. Daphne is so complex because she wants to solve the disappearances, but at the same time she would be betraying those closest to her. One word that I did look up that helped in my understanding early on in the story was “blot” which is Old Norse for an exchange in which they did a blood sacrifice to the gods in order to get something in return.
I am very glad I gave this book a try because it did turn out to be an engrossing read. If you are into dark horror with suspense and mystery this is definitely the book for you.
August 26, 2023
Wow what a read! Girl Among Crows felt really long read. At times I did wonder why we were being told so much. It's actually felt Daphne liked her own voice (And thoughts) more than we needed. But as the story unfolded, so did the mystery. This is one of those books that just when you feel like you are getting a grip on it, something is pulled out from underneath you to leave you free falling.
I admit half way through I was thinking 3, maybe 3.5 stars and writing this review having just finished its hard to tell you why it's a solid 4 stars. I cannot and will not give you spoilers, I never do that in reviews. But the combination of Daphne's detective skills (Both as a child and in her adult years) and the mystery of the Brotherhood just had me gripped. I loved the small town setting, but thought that ending (I again can't say what I mean about it) just blew this out the water. The final chapter with 'everyone' really made me feel good about this book. So much happens and thinking back to the early chapters I could never have predicted where Brendon (Author) would take me.
A solid 4 stars, if you like dark books with a mystery element give this a go. If you like red herrings, corruption and unreliable characters, definitely give this a go. You may not feel you need to know everything Daphne is telling/showing you about her family, but trust me it's all relevant.
This ARC was given in exchange of an honest review from BookSirens.
I admit half way through I was thinking 3, maybe 3.5 stars and writing this review having just finished its hard to tell you why it's a solid 4 stars. I cannot and will not give you spoilers, I never do that in reviews. But the combination of Daphne's detective skills (Both as a child and in her adult years) and the mystery of the Brotherhood just had me gripped. I loved the small town setting, but thought that ending (I again can't say what I mean about it) just blew this out the water. The final chapter with 'everyone' really made me feel good about this book. So much happens and thinking back to the early chapters I could never have predicted where Brendon (Author) would take me.
A solid 4 stars, if you like dark books with a mystery element give this a go. If you like red herrings, corruption and unreliable characters, definitely give this a go. You may not feel you need to know everything Daphne is telling/showing you about her family, but trust me it's all relevant.
This ARC was given in exchange of an honest review from BookSirens.
October 30, 2023
Whew!! What a great debut novel for horror/mystery/thriller category.
Girl Among Crows follows Daphne as she tries to crack a case and clear her family’s name that involved her brother being abducted 33-years prior while preventing the same thing from happening to other children.
I felt like this was a long read but every time I was nearing my fill something else would occur or be uncovered that had me right back in its chokehold.
Verdict: solid 4/5 ⭐️
Thank you BookSirens for the eARC.
Girl Among Crows follows Daphne as she tries to crack a case and clear her family’s name that involved her brother being abducted 33-years prior while preventing the same thing from happening to other children.
I felt like this was a long read but every time I was nearing my fill something else would occur or be uncovered that had me right back in its chokehold.
Verdict: solid 4/5 ⭐️
Thank you BookSirens for the eARC.
May 31, 2024
DNF. Finally gave up over halfway through. It’s so disjointed and hard to follow at times. I don’t like the characters and have zero desire to stick it out and find out what’s really going on.
October 31, 2023
I love this book! I could not put it down! It's one that I'll remember for a while. There were times when I was reading that I was thinking, "what the actual heck". It was a very good book and I will be on the lookout for more books from this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 22, 2023
Girl Among Crows definitely fits the category of dark mystery. In full transparency, after reading the first half of the book, my rating would have been a low 3. The reading is very intense and required complete focus.
I found it confusing as it bounced between time periods and religious passages and ideologies by different players in the book often left me more confused than providing insight.
However, the second half picked up pace, some of the background laid out in the beginning began to make sense, and I could not put the book down.
What started out as one of the rougher reads I've had in awhile, turned out to be a really fantastic story and a redeeming high four-star by it's conclusion.
To explain how it made this transition would require spoilers which I never like to do.
If you are a dark mystery fan, especially if you like touches of paranormal, I think this book will be a huge hit for you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found it confusing as it bounced between time periods and religious passages and ideologies by different players in the book often left me more confused than providing insight.
However, the second half picked up pace, some of the background laid out in the beginning began to make sense, and I could not put the book down.
What started out as one of the rougher reads I've had in awhile, turned out to be a really fantastic story and a redeeming high four-star by it's conclusion.
To explain how it made this transition would require spoilers which I never like to do.
If you are a dark mystery fan, especially if you like touches of paranormal, I think this book will be a huge hit for you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 12, 2023
Thank you to BookSirens for an eARC in exchange for a review.
Girl Among Crows is among (haha) some of my favorite books about The Old Ways vs. the New. At the center of everything, there is the Brotherhood of the Ravens which is a group of worshippers of Woden and a Norse Idol in the small town of New Minton, MA. Some members believe they need to return to the Old Ways of Sacrifice to keep things going as they have been, and others that would rather adjust to a more symbolic sacrifice. In this novel, a woman, Daphne Gauge, accounts her experiences with the Brotherhood, bouncing from present to past.
Ok, so that gives some idea as to what is happening. I loved this book. There were times when I was not quite certain as to what was happening, but I feel it added to the suspense. Moreover, we (the reader) become as engrained and as paranoid as the FMC through this twisting mystery. I do feel it is apparent that this is a debut novel as it does seem to tackle a lot of complex ideas in interesting ways, but it also does not flesh them out as well as it deserves.
At the beginning of the novel, I could not put it down. The middle took a little while to get into, but the ending had me basically skimming pages to find out what happened next. I did want a little more from the ending - no spoilers - but I felt it was rushed and a bit too clean. However, there are still a lot of questions unanswered which I find excellent in this type of story.
Daphne definitely has her own voice and it is wonderful when her parents' voices also show through because there is so much tension between those characters. However, I do feel that Daphne is the only fully fleshed-out character in the novel. I do wish more time had been spent developing her mother, but I also understand the limits of Daphne's perspective, especially as a child.
TL;DR - Good book, perfect for spooky season. Sometimes is confusing, but it's worth it. I look forward to owning a hard copy.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Girl Among Crows is among (haha) some of my favorite books about The Old Ways vs. the New. At the center of everything, there is the Brotherhood of the Ravens which is a group of worshippers of Woden and a Norse Idol in the small town of New Minton, MA. Some members believe they need to return to the Old Ways of Sacrifice to keep things going as they have been, and others that would rather adjust to a more symbolic sacrifice. In this novel, a woman, Daphne Gauge, accounts her experiences with the Brotherhood, bouncing from present to past.
Ok, so that gives some idea as to what is happening. I loved this book. There were times when I was not quite certain as to what was happening, but I feel it added to the suspense. Moreover, we (the reader) become as engrained and as paranoid as the FMC through this twisting mystery. I do feel it is apparent that this is a debut novel as it does seem to tackle a lot of complex ideas in interesting ways, but it also does not flesh them out as well as it deserves.
At the beginning of the novel, I could not put it down. The middle took a little while to get into, but the ending had me basically skimming pages to find out what happened next. I did want a little more from the ending - no spoilers - but I felt it was rushed and a bit too clean. However, there are still a lot of questions unanswered which I find excellent in this type of story.
Daphne definitely has her own voice and it is wonderful when her parents' voices also show through because there is so much tension between those characters. However, I do feel that Daphne is the only fully fleshed-out character in the novel. I do wish more time had been spent developing her mother, but I also understand the limits of Daphne's perspective, especially as a child.
TL;DR - Good book, perfect for spooky season. Sometimes is confusing, but it's worth it. I look forward to owning a hard copy.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 28, 2023
Confusing
The plot was apparent, but the characters were not well developed or were haphazardly presented. One has to work very hard to piece the story together.
The plot was apparent, but the characters were not well developed or were haphazardly presented. One has to work very hard to piece the story together.
July 27, 2024
I wanted to like this book, it had potential. Love the culty vibes. It just hopped around a little too much for me. It also kept interchanging crows and ravens.
May 12, 2024
Witchcraft - sacrifices - ravens ... not for me.
December 11, 2023
I debated with four stars, because overall, the story is a good one. Unfortunately, for most of the book, however, I couldn't figure out what was going on, and not in a good way. It was like bring om drugs - nothing connected, everything was disjointed, warped and distorted. Unreliable narrators are one thing, but when phrases, descriptions, and conversations don't make sense and you find yourself backtracking to see if you missed something, it gets just weird. I found myself not wanting to read because it was weird. I kept going to see if it got better, and it did, but the weird kept muddling things up.
For hard-core cultists and conspiracy lovers, this'll be a great read, but at times it felt like I was reading through hallucinogens.
For hard-core cultists and conspiracy lovers, this'll be a great read, but at times it felt like I was reading through hallucinogens.
June 5, 2024
I would probably rate it 2.5 if possible. It was an interesting plot with a lot of suspense in this thriller but I feel like the writing was a bit choppy and my mind would wander off the page and constantly be punished for it. I enjoyed the time period shifts but ultimately it just felt forced with some of the wrap up. Personally just wasn’t for me but overall a solid first book for the author and a complicated storyline.
December 12, 2023
This was too long and I really struggled with it. It was a slow burner but much to slow.
February 8, 2024
I got about 1/3 of the way into this and realized I wasn't connecting to the story at all. The premise sounded interesting, but the writing style completely took me out of it.
DNF
DNF
February 19, 2024
The plot and vibes were fantastic, but it felt a bit long and slow in certain parts, and I found myself struggling to continue, but then was glad I kept pushing through.
June 14, 2024
I had to ponder this book before I gave it a fair review. I liked it but again I didn't. The good outweighs the bad but the bad is a big part of the book. I think the bad could've been reworked somehow.
So Daphne is narrating between 2021 and 1988. The tie between the years is missing children. Her brother disappeared in 1988 and she will not stand for yet another disappearance scandal from her hometown. She's a mom and has 2 boys. And outright abandons her family to go look for the other kids. No she's not a detective. This is ridiculous considering the outcome of the novel.
I loved the Norse mythology and sacrifice, the spells and powers that came with old families. The fact that it survived the old world and stays hidden away from outsiders. I love it because for me it's fantasy. It's not the real world. You cannot juxtapose fantasy with the real world unless the real world has acknowledged it's existence and is operating on the fact it will be stopped. I don't want to read a Harry Potter book. Daphne takes her suspicion of connection of the missing kids to the FBI. Lots of evidence and questioning and so boring. I hated all of this.
Daphne's family history is awesome and there could've been so much done. There are a lot of characters because of the families and the story only goes so far. I wanted secrets and details and dark stories. I got a day in the courtroom.
There are surprises that I didn't expect I just wanted so much more. I read the book cover to cover in a night though because I had to know what really was going on so it does hold your attention.
I hope if the author writes something else he stays in one lane.
So Daphne is narrating between 2021 and 1988. The tie between the years is missing children. Her brother disappeared in 1988 and she will not stand for yet another disappearance scandal from her hometown. She's a mom and has 2 boys. And outright abandons her family to go look for the other kids. No she's not a detective. This is ridiculous considering the outcome of the novel.
I loved the Norse mythology and sacrifice, the spells and powers that came with old families. The fact that it survived the old world and stays hidden away from outsiders. I love it because for me it's fantasy. It's not the real world. You cannot juxtapose fantasy with the real world unless the real world has acknowledged it's existence and is operating on the fact it will be stopped. I don't want to read a Harry Potter book. Daphne takes her suspicion of connection of the missing kids to the FBI. Lots of evidence and questioning and so boring. I hated all of this.
Daphne's family history is awesome and there could've been so much done. There are a lot of characters because of the families and the story only goes so far. I wanted secrets and details and dark stories. I got a day in the courtroom.
There are surprises that I didn't expect I just wanted so much more. I read the book cover to cover in a night though because I had to know what really was going on so it does hold your attention.
I hope if the author writes something else he stays in one lane.
June 20, 2023
Daphne Gauge thought she left her mysterious past behind. She has a great job, happy marriage, beautiful kids. But the thirty-year-old kidnapping of her little brother hovers like a constant shadow cast by watchful black birds with yellow eyes: The Brotherhood of the Raven.
When a pair of boys vanish from the town she tried to forget, Daphne knows history is repeating itself. The Brotherhood needs young blood for their ritual sacrifice, the source of their supernatural power and wealth, a way to hold open the supernatural door to the underworld.
Unwilling to let another family fall prey to The Brotherhood, Daphne pours herself into following clues to find the brothers before the Brotherhood finds her. Little does she know they’ve marked her and have their sights set on what she holds dearest.
Girl Among Crows is a hard-boiled mystery and Daphne evokes the amateur sleuth in those of us who loved our childhood detective novels. Picking up where her literary heroes left off, now she’s in a race against time as she uncovers sinister secrets about her own family.
Bendon Vayo’s voice is unique and refreshing. Fans of John Hart will love his intelligent, realistic depictions of scenery, personalities, and the things inside all of us we wish weren’t true.
- Lynessa Layne, author of The Don’t Close Your Eyes Series
When a pair of boys vanish from the town she tried to forget, Daphne knows history is repeating itself. The Brotherhood needs young blood for their ritual sacrifice, the source of their supernatural power and wealth, a way to hold open the supernatural door to the underworld.
Unwilling to let another family fall prey to The Brotherhood, Daphne pours herself into following clues to find the brothers before the Brotherhood finds her. Little does she know they’ve marked her and have their sights set on what she holds dearest.
Girl Among Crows is a hard-boiled mystery and Daphne evokes the amateur sleuth in those of us who loved our childhood detective novels. Picking up where her literary heroes left off, now she’s in a race against time as she uncovers sinister secrets about her own family.
Bendon Vayo’s voice is unique and refreshing. Fans of John Hart will love his intelligent, realistic depictions of scenery, personalities, and the things inside all of us we wish weren’t true.
- Lynessa Layne, author of The Don’t Close Your Eyes Series
November 25, 2023
The plot is 👏 fantastic! Witchcraft, sacrifices, ravens, manipulating the elements or perhaps becoming one with them, lies, secrets, missing children, amateur sleuthing, hallucinations... I have to say the plot itself kept me coming back for more, even when I had no idea what was going on.
This was definitely a different writing style from what I'm used to. I usually pay attention to details, analyzing clues in attempts to piece together what's really going on -- and you just can't do that with this book, I very much had to just take it all in and go wherever the book led me.
The clues are scattered and often unreliable coming from memories from emotionally and mentally disturbed townsfolk. Trauma and secrets run deep in these people, and the story unfolds in quite an untethered manner.
I get what our author was going for, providing an unstable foundation for this story through rumors and secrets. I do think it would have read smoother if we had at least one reliable character to root into every now and then.
The ending definitely shed some light on a lot of my "huh" moments throughout the book. Overall, I'd say this is a very interesting book with a unique and intricate plot. When you read it, don't try to figure it out as you go. Just enjoy the stream-of-consciousness rollercoaster ride.
This was definitely a different writing style from what I'm used to. I usually pay attention to details, analyzing clues in attempts to piece together what's really going on -- and you just can't do that with this book, I very much had to just take it all in and go wherever the book led me.
The clues are scattered and often unreliable coming from memories from emotionally and mentally disturbed townsfolk. Trauma and secrets run deep in these people, and the story unfolds in quite an untethered manner.
I get what our author was going for, providing an unstable foundation for this story through rumors and secrets. I do think it would have read smoother if we had at least one reliable character to root into every now and then.
The ending definitely shed some light on a lot of my "huh" moments throughout the book. Overall, I'd say this is a very interesting book with a unique and intricate plot. When you read it, don't try to figure it out as you go. Just enjoy the stream-of-consciousness rollercoaster ride.
August 16, 2024
What I was expecting from the description was that most of the book would be a long, detailed interview between the protagonist and the FBI, giving testimony about some missing children killed by a Nordic cult 30 years prior to help solve similar crime. Instead, we're thrust into a stream-of-consciousness narrative with an unreliable narrator who knows that magic is real and is trying to convince everyone, from her husband to the police, of it.
It's hard to keep details straight due to the writing style and the protagonist's recounting of her magically-altered memories, and there are so many named characters and families that I struggled to keep track of anything. The parts that weren't muddled were funny in a bad way. There is not a single likeable character in this story and some of their actions are just hilariously stupid, petty, or cartoonishly evil. There has got to be a way to pull off a supernatural thriller, but I'm currently batting 0 for 2.
(I DO have to say I kept seeing reviews complaining they don't know what a blót is, even though the book defines it for you more than once. The writing style is just so strange that this definition is getting left behind by readers.)
This book really doesn't like the homeless and people who struggle with adicition huh?
It's hard to keep details straight due to the writing style and the protagonist's recounting of her magically-altered memories, and there are so many named characters and families that I struggled to keep track of anything. The parts that weren't muddled were funny in a bad way. There is not a single likeable character in this story and some of their actions are just hilariously stupid, petty, or cartoonishly evil. There has got to be a way to pull off a supernatural thriller, but I'm currently batting 0 for 2.
(I DO have to say I kept seeing reviews complaining they don't know what a blót is, even though the book defines it for you more than once. The writing style is just so strange that this definition is getting left behind by readers.)
This book really doesn't like the homeless and people who struggle with adicition huh?
November 9, 2023
This book was very intriguing. It drew me in right from the beginning. It was a great debut, and I'm happy I was able to read it.
When two boys go missing in New Minton, MA, Daphne Gauge is reminded of her brother's disappearance in 1988. She notices the similarities and is afraid the Brotherhood of the Raven is striking again. They believe a sacrifice will bring them good fortune and please the Gods. When the FBI approaches her to tell her story of the events from her childhood, she agrees, thinking it may help. But they don't seem to be doing anything. Must she take matters into her own hands to save the lives of these boys? What dark family secrets is she willing to reveal to unmask the truth?
Told in dual timelines, this book was dark, mysterious, and full of suspense. It's a complex read with a lot of back story, but you'll want to keep reading to find out what happens. The ending blew me away! I loved the New England small town setting and the Norse Mythology. I'll definitely be looking out for more books by this author. If you're a horror/mystery fan, I would highly recommend this one!
When two boys go missing in New Minton, MA, Daphne Gauge is reminded of her brother's disappearance in 1988. She notices the similarities and is afraid the Brotherhood of the Raven is striking again. They believe a sacrifice will bring them good fortune and please the Gods. When the FBI approaches her to tell her story of the events from her childhood, she agrees, thinking it may help. But they don't seem to be doing anything. Must she take matters into her own hands to save the lives of these boys? What dark family secrets is she willing to reveal to unmask the truth?
Told in dual timelines, this book was dark, mysterious, and full of suspense. It's a complex read with a lot of back story, but you'll want to keep reading to find out what happens. The ending blew me away! I loved the New England small town setting and the Norse Mythology. I'll definitely be looking out for more books by this author. If you're a horror/mystery fan, I would highly recommend this one!
February 16, 2024
This book didn't get me hooked until I was more than halfway through. I likely wouldn't have finished it had it not been a selection of my book club. That being said, I'm glad I did, the last part of the book was riveting! For me, the beginning half was disjointed and hard to follow. It also bothered me that the author conflated crows and ravens in her descriptions of things; those two birds are not the same, not interchangeable (example on P. 326). Some of the descriptions were hard to pin down and picture, like "It was a long, agonizing sound like a mouse unscrewing brass mounting." What? A little bizarre, but once I passed the halfway point, at about 59%, according to my Kindle, the action really got going and the writing seemed to smooth out. I loved the plot, with using Blot and ancient Nordic rituals, made for some terrifying visuals. You really got the sense of evil lurking about, but it wasn't clear whether that was man-made or something supernatural, or both. Overall, slow to get me hooked but I loved how it flowed towards the end.
Favorite Line ~ "Possibility becomes our lives. Plausibility denies us relief."
Favorite Line ~ "Possibility becomes our lives. Plausibility denies us relief."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2023
This one really threw me off as I could never ever guess what was going on! The whole plot was very complex and towards the last part of the book the pace really picked up and I found my breathing accelerating a bit as the main character went from hurdle to hurdle.
The ending made me really emotional and I loved it!
I had mixed views about this book and when I reached halfway I considered not continuing as I was finding the writing difficult and the style of stream of consciousness mixed with description of memories without being explained, hard to follow. BUT, I'm really glad I persevered as the last part was worth it!!
As this book focuses heavily on the relationship between the characters and the plot, I'm not going to add any more as I'd spoil it.
All I can say is that reading this book was like solving a puzzle, but with the pieces changing all the time, so that you always had to rearrange them and find the new right place!
Thanks to the author, CamCat Books and PartnersInCrimeTours for a copy and this is my honest review.
The ending made me really emotional and I loved it!
I had mixed views about this book and when I reached halfway I considered not continuing as I was finding the writing difficult and the style of stream of consciousness mixed with description of memories without being explained, hard to follow. BUT, I'm really glad I persevered as the last part was worth it!!
As this book focuses heavily on the relationship between the characters and the plot, I'm not going to add any more as I'd spoil it.
All I can say is that reading this book was like solving a puzzle, but with the pieces changing all the time, so that you always had to rearrange them and find the new right place!
Thanks to the author, CamCat Books and PartnersInCrimeTours for a copy and this is my honest review.
November 4, 2023
Girl Among Crows by Brendon Vayo is so dark, eerie, and mysterious that it is impossible to not be sucked into the story. It reminds me so much of Edgar Allan Poe's dark tales. It also reminds me of Holly Jackson's YA true crime series such as Good Girl, Bad Blood novel. The main character is stuck in a position of wanting to find answers and wedged into a corner of betraying those closest to her. There are plenty of plot twists to keep readers wondering what's coming next. I had no idea what would happen from one scene to another. I just knew that things would be suspenseful. I loved knowing as much as Daphane knew. Her insights as they happened in the past and what is happening now made it livelier. I thoroughly enjoyed the past and present being tied together. This is the first read I've come across from this writer, I hope to read more books by the talented Brendon Vayo in the future.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
November 20, 2023
Girl Among Crows is an original, daunting read that transitions a reader between dual timelines that both lead you into a world you can’t help but continue to explore. When it comes to horror/suspense/thrillers, I love when a story pushes me outside of my realm of comfort and leaves me feeling unsettled until the end. Brandon Vayo accomplishes this with uncanny precision!
Dual timelines that have similarities are sometimes hard to follow, but I felt that these worked together quite well, intricately connecting. We get plenty of twists that include eccentricities that our daily lives don’t often see (i.e. the Norse-related aspects). I did have to stop a few times to look up a word or two, but overall, I felt the story gives most of what you need to understand.
I hope that Brandon Vayo continues to write like this! Dark, compelling, and intricate like a spider’s web….drawing you in, snaring you in a trap of a book that you are too creeped out to put down!
Dual timelines that have similarities are sometimes hard to follow, but I felt that these worked together quite well, intricately connecting. We get plenty of twists that include eccentricities that our daily lives don’t often see (i.e. the Norse-related aspects). I did have to stop a few times to look up a word or two, but overall, I felt the story gives most of what you need to understand.
I hope that Brandon Vayo continues to write like this! Dark, compelling, and intricate like a spider’s web….drawing you in, snaring you in a trap of a book that you are too creeped out to put down!
November 16, 2023
I liked the Nordic ritual sacrifices and the Nordic ancient gods mentioned in this story, which is why I picked it up. My husband’s family heritage is from Norway and we are always reading something in our house about Norwegian myths, etc.
This book starts off with a woman named Daphne, who is our MC. This story goes from the future in 2021 to the past in 1988 to a town called New Minton. Boys have been disappearing in the town for a few years and then they start disappearing again 30 years later! Daphne is trying to tell authorities what has been going on with the Brotherhood of the Raven but she is not sure.
After 30 years Daphne is hoping to keep her own two boys safe and maybe find her brother Paul in the realm of the door being open.
The writing was fantastic and I love hearing about the Nordic ritual. It was a perfectly well done horror read and I highly recommend it!
This book starts off with a woman named Daphne, who is our MC. This story goes from the future in 2021 to the past in 1988 to a town called New Minton. Boys have been disappearing in the town for a few years and then they start disappearing again 30 years later! Daphne is trying to tell authorities what has been going on with the Brotherhood of the Raven but she is not sure.
After 30 years Daphne is hoping to keep her own two boys safe and maybe find her brother Paul in the realm of the door being open.
The writing was fantastic and I love hearing about the Nordic ritual. It was a perfectly well done horror read and I highly recommend it!
December 31, 2023
Girl Among Crows blends elements of horror, mystery, and mythology to tell the story of a small town where everything is not as it seems. Decades ago, children started to go missing, and now it's starting to happen again. The level of irreality in this book, where Daphne struggles to parse myth from reality right alongside the reader, lends a dreamy aspect of unreliability to the story as a whole, where you're never quite sure what, or who, to believe, or what's even real. There's a forboding level of suspense woven through the plot, from the flashbacks of years ago right up through present day. A very fascinating and unique read.
January 24, 2024
This was a bit of an odd story that mashed up a number of Pagan belief systems along the way. I was honestly looking forward to a horror based on Norse Paganism and unfortunately, there was very little actual Norse content. The story itself is a non linear tale and coupled with an extremely unreliable narrator, a lot of the book seems confused and disjointed. This is where the strength of the author storytelling really shone. The ability to still have a path to follow through the chaos was amazing.
April 15, 2024
I picked this book up at a book festival and could not put it down for the next two days. I was immediately sucked into the story and the wild ride, with the twists and turns to the end. I was right there with Daphne as she put together the clues to finding the missing children and eventually herself. I appreciated the details that made solving the puzzle of what happened to the Gauge family 33 years earlier and how it mirrored the present-day crime. I look forward to the next book by the author.
February 27, 2024
This book is slow to start and a little hard to stick with at times, it definitely bounces around a time line that you need to keep clear. The author also refers to ravens as crows which is not accurate. But the ending wraps it up well and makes it hard to put down and the ending will not be what you expected.
July 15, 2025
I DNFed it halfway through unfortunately. Not sure if it was because of the author's writing style or because of the story not being catchy enough for me, but I had to stop as it was sending me straight into a reading slump. 2 stars because it is not that I was hating it, just could not enjoy or understand properly what was happening.
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