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A Murder of Crows
A dead father.
A missing Spirit.
An ancient manor with way too many locked doors.
But Abigail Crowe won't let locked doors, corsets, or the straight-laced rules of Victorian society get in the way of finding the truth behind her father's death. Of course, where illegal magic is involved, things are rarely as simple as they appear. Screams in the night, an insane gardener, and a murder blamed on her late father are only the beginning. Could her father actually be a murderer? What is Uncle Edward hiding in the attic? And perhaps most importantly—which family secrets are worth keeping locked up?
A missing Spirit.
An ancient manor with way too many locked doors.
But Abigail Crowe won't let locked doors, corsets, or the straight-laced rules of Victorian society get in the way of finding the truth behind her father's death. Of course, where illegal magic is involved, things are rarely as simple as they appear. Screams in the night, an insane gardener, and a murder blamed on her late father are only the beginning. Could her father actually be a murderer? What is Uncle Edward hiding in the attic? And perhaps most importantly—which family secrets are worth keeping locked up?
- GenresFantasy
298 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2018
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123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 11, 2019
This is the first novel in a series, and I always expect to be some information that is yet to be revealed, and I wasn't surprised to have that interest to read the next one as soon as I finished up this book.
I read the story back in 2018, and even a year later I could remember the plot, the characters and the feel to this novel, even without checking out my review notes. That happens because it was different and it had a spooky feeling that reminded me of something that I can't put my finger on, but that made me curious to turn each page and read more.
I liked the characters and their interactions, and I'm quite curious to know what will happen next in the series and where will the author take this world and it's people, because the ambiance of the story and the descriptions made me question some things while I was reading and I want more.
Another thing I enjoyed was the fantasy/paranormal element in the novel. I feel that it added that spookiness to the story and I love a good book that is dark, has secrets and that has it's characters looking for the truth and the answers to all their questions. And this book had that, even though I had some theories, I felt determined to uncover the mysteries.
I loved the title of the book, it was quite cleaver, and although the cover isn't my favorite cover, I appreciate the elements that it has and the darkness. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and Abigail and all the other characters with whom she interact and has a relationship.
[I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to A. Kirke and Dying Arts Press. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
I read the story back in 2018, and even a year later I could remember the plot, the characters and the feel to this novel, even without checking out my review notes. That happens because it was different and it had a spooky feeling that reminded me of something that I can't put my finger on, but that made me curious to turn each page and read more.
I liked the characters and their interactions, and I'm quite curious to know what will happen next in the series and where will the author take this world and it's people, because the ambiance of the story and the descriptions made me question some things while I was reading and I want more.
Another thing I enjoyed was the fantasy/paranormal element in the novel. I feel that it added that spookiness to the story and I love a good book that is dark, has secrets and that has it's characters looking for the truth and the answers to all their questions. And this book had that, even though I had some theories, I felt determined to uncover the mysteries.
I loved the title of the book, it was quite cleaver, and although the cover isn't my favorite cover, I appreciate the elements that it has and the darkness. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and Abigail and all the other characters with whom she interact and has a relationship.
[I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to A. Kirke and Dying Arts Press. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
November 8, 2018
For the first book in the series it sets the bar incredibly high for the rest of the books to come.
The story is dark and mysterious as is its setting, Ravenscourt Manor. I loved the gothic feel to the novel and the spookiness which was really enhanced by all the strange happenings at the manor and its odd residents and staff.
This was quite a thrilling read and I will certainly be looking out for book 2.
Powerfully atmospheric and suspenseful; a modern classic in the making.
The story is dark and mysterious as is its setting, Ravenscourt Manor. I loved the gothic feel to the novel and the spookiness which was really enhanced by all the strange happenings at the manor and its odd residents and staff.
This was quite a thrilling read and I will certainly be looking out for book 2.
Powerfully atmospheric and suspenseful; a modern classic in the making.
January 1, 2019
Rumours are nasty things. They lurk in the shadows and feed off people's worst instincts.I love me some strong female characters, so when Dying Arts Press reached out to me to offer me a chance to read this YA fantasy I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately this book did not work for me: I found the characters flat, worldbuilding confusing, and the plot to be predictable and a little troublesome.
Abigail is 13 and her father just mysteriously died. Part of the burial process of loved ones is known as the Resting, where the spirit can say their final goodbyes to loved ones before crossing over. Unfortunately something went wrong and her father's soul wasn't there, so they are left alone with their grief and questions without their chance to say goodbye. Within a couple of days, his estranged brother comes and invites the family (Abigail, her mother, and her brother) to stay with him at Ravenscourt for awhile. And then the mysteries begin.
This could have been an interesting story and the beginning was interesting to me, but unfortunately once they move into Ravenscourt the entire plot can be summed up by my least favorite writing device: conflict that can be easily resolved if the characters merely spoke to one another. It is obvious that the adults are hiding things from the children. The kids are given a list of rules to "keep them safe" but no context as to what is going on, leading their minds to wander and in search of answers for their dad's death and the spooky secrets behind Ravenscourt. Seriously, if Uncle Edward just told them why the rules were in place and maybe why they were there in the first place, there would have been no conflict in this book. The time could have been spent on strengthening the worldbuilding, which I found interesting but confusingly developed. Honestly there is enough of an interesting story and world here without the need for this 'misunderstanding plot introductory book'.
While I found the story itself predictable, I also found it a little troublesome. The housekeeper at Ravenscourt is put in charge of looking after the children, and not only is their mother hardly present for them in the weeks following their father's death but the housekeeper obviously has no love for children and her behavior is abusive. On more than one occasion does she yell, call them names, grab them roughly, lock them in rooms, and even lock the main character in a closet . There is really no reason for this, and while the mother challenged it early on, it continued unchallenged and made me uncomfortable. There is never an excuse for child abuse, but it does nothing for the plot other than torment our characters and the housekeeper's reasoning is never given she just leaves at the end.
Overall I just wasn't the right reader for this book. This is definitely a lower-YA story, which the market is sorely missing, but given the abuse I hesitate to recommend this book to younger readers. It is worth noting that I had originally rated this book two stars, but after sitting with my thoughts and writing out my review I unfortunately have lowered it to one star.
CONTENT WARNINGS: grief, loss of a parent, abuse (the housekeeper and her penchant for punishing the children) and the neglect (mother not putting her foot down more against the housekeeper)
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an eARC for review. Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon publication.
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January 22, 2020
Really well plotted and written!
The author goes into such great descriptive detail of the wards and the crumbling surrounding of Ravenscourt Manor. It sets itself up really well for the second one but also leave you with a great sense of this part of the story being resolved which can sometimes be a difficult thing to accomplish!
Looking forward to Book 2
The author goes into such great descriptive detail of the wards and the crumbling surrounding of Ravenscourt Manor. It sets itself up really well for the second one but also leave you with a great sense of this part of the story being resolved which can sometimes be a difficult thing to accomplish!
Looking forward to Book 2
May 2, 2020
If I’m going to read a fantasy novel, one of the first things I look for is whether the world building and the logic of magic makes sense. Ever since I read a fascinating article by Malinda Lo about world building, I’ve looked out for the stuff she’s talked about in that article. And my praise for this book has to start with the fact that I really like the way magic is portrayed in this story. The second piece of praise it’s due is the wordplay with the title – the main family are called Crowe, and it does start with the death of a family member, so it’s quite a good pun (and I always love a good pun).
But when reading this book, do keep in mind that it is, primarily, a book for children.
I personally know the author – we ran in similar circles back in Malta within the spoken word/writing community until we both moved to the UK. She lives in London though, and I’m up north in Scotland, so the last time we saw each other was, funnily enough, in Malta. We exchanged copies of our books, and this is how this book review came to be.
I admire Annie’s writing because I’ve experienced her other work, and I think that she’s very imaginative and knows how to use her words properly. That being said, she definitely knows how to use her words properly in this book as well. Seeing as it is, primarily, a novel for younger teens, it can be quite predictable (except for that one part about D**** [name redacted because spoilers]) and too easy to read. The characters are staples of literature for teens – the annoying little brother, the harsh matron figure, the absent mother, the suspicious older uncle, the fascinating groundskeeper. It’s all stuff we’ve seen before and for good reason: because it sticks with us and it’s familiar.
However, it’s very enjoyable and original in its concept. The story relies on the ingenuity of its protagonist who, because she is a teenage girl, isn’t being believed about her suspicions (which is something all teenagers have faced regardless of gender, let’s be real). The society the story takes place in, a very familiar Victorian-era caricature with splashes of magic included in it, are also quite enthralling to me personally, mostly because I don’t think I’ve ever really read a fantasy novel that takes place in that time period (and if there are any you think I would enjoy, please do let me know!). And like I mentioned previously, the magic is original in its concept and not like anything I’ve seen before. It’s not magic that relies on wands or incantations, but rather symbols and artifacts and honing your mind. Magic in this world is dangerous and not to be sought after, but the way that the main characters work with it is definitely a huge part of why I loved the book.
All in all, I give it a 3/5, because I’m definitely not the intended audience for this book but I also really enjoyed it!
But when reading this book, do keep in mind that it is, primarily, a book for children.
I personally know the author – we ran in similar circles back in Malta within the spoken word/writing community until we both moved to the UK. She lives in London though, and I’m up north in Scotland, so the last time we saw each other was, funnily enough, in Malta. We exchanged copies of our books, and this is how this book review came to be.
I admire Annie’s writing because I’ve experienced her other work, and I think that she’s very imaginative and knows how to use her words properly. That being said, she definitely knows how to use her words properly in this book as well. Seeing as it is, primarily, a novel for younger teens, it can be quite predictable (except for that one part about D**** [name redacted because spoilers]) and too easy to read. The characters are staples of literature for teens – the annoying little brother, the harsh matron figure, the absent mother, the suspicious older uncle, the fascinating groundskeeper. It’s all stuff we’ve seen before and for good reason: because it sticks with us and it’s familiar.
However, it’s very enjoyable and original in its concept. The story relies on the ingenuity of its protagonist who, because she is a teenage girl, isn’t being believed about her suspicions (which is something all teenagers have faced regardless of gender, let’s be real). The society the story takes place in, a very familiar Victorian-era caricature with splashes of magic included in it, are also quite enthralling to me personally, mostly because I don’t think I’ve ever really read a fantasy novel that takes place in that time period (and if there are any you think I would enjoy, please do let me know!). And like I mentioned previously, the magic is original in its concept and not like anything I’ve seen before. It’s not magic that relies on wands or incantations, but rather symbols and artifacts and honing your mind. Magic in this world is dangerous and not to be sought after, but the way that the main characters work with it is definitely a huge part of why I loved the book.
All in all, I give it a 3/5, because I’m definitely not the intended audience for this book but I also really enjoyed it!
January 11, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Why is everyone sleeping on this book?! I know it's a first book by a small, British publisher but still?!
A Murder of Crows is basically The Secret Garden meets a modern ghost story. The use of language has the feel of a classic but there's just the right amount of description and plenty of creepy action. It's a middle grade book with magic, clockwork and the fey.
I was pretty much drawn in straight away once I started reading this. It looked good but I assumed it would be a slow read as Gothic reads can be. But I was wrong. Abby is a great MC, even when you know she probably shouldn't be doing something you're still supporting her and I adore her relationship with William. I know the fear of having a younger sibling who has seizures so all that felt perfectly real to me even when it got more magical.
I'm also curious about Isaac and want to see more of him...with that ending there has to be more books to come. There'd better be as I'm super excited for them already.
Buy this book guys, it's available in the Kindle store or in paperback on the publisher's site. You won't regret it.
Why is everyone sleeping on this book?! I know it's a first book by a small, British publisher but still?!
A Murder of Crows is basically The Secret Garden meets a modern ghost story. The use of language has the feel of a classic but there's just the right amount of description and plenty of creepy action. It's a middle grade book with magic, clockwork and the fey.
I was pretty much drawn in straight away once I started reading this. It looked good but I assumed it would be a slow read as Gothic reads can be. But I was wrong. Abby is a great MC, even when you know she probably shouldn't be doing something you're still supporting her and I adore her relationship with William. I know the fear of having a younger sibling who has seizures so all that felt perfectly real to me even when it got more magical.
I'm also curious about Isaac and want to see more of him...with that ending there has to be more books to come. There'd better be as I'm super excited for them already.
Buy this book guys, it's available in the Kindle store or in paperback on the publisher's site. You won't regret it.
January 17, 2019
This review was originally posted on my blog,
Paradise Found
.
I was a lucky girl; 2018 went out with a bang for me reading-wise. A Murder of Crows by Annie Kirke was the last book I read in 2018 and to tell the truth I'm grateful I could finish the year with such a delightful novel.
Abigail Crowe's father died and his spirit disappeared. Not long after, Abigail's mother brought her and her brother to this strange mansion where screams pierce through the walls at night. The uncle they haven't seen since she and William were little, most probably tampers with forbidden magic. The grounds around the house are off limits after sunset. There are closed doors wherever they go and Abigail keeps thinking about how her father couldn't deliver a probably important last message to his family. She suspects foul play. The living members of her family might be in danger too...
I was pleasantly surprised by this lovely gothic detective story.
Abigail, the young protagonist is hell-bent on finding out who murdered her father. It seems like he passed because of natural causes but she thinks she knows better. His spirit never showed during his resting (where the departing usually say their final goodbyes) and it was enough to raise her suspicion.
I enjoyed the pacing and how the tale was put together – there is real detective work; Abigail and her brother William are fiercely looking for answers and with the help of memorable side-characters (Emily, who Abigail keeps calling "Keeper of the Dead" and Beatrice the gardener who acts crazy most of the time) they soon start getting glimpses at the bigger picture.
The environment in which they investigate is dark and menacing, the mansion holds secrects just like the people who inhabit it. The fantasy/paranormal bits that colour the story (like the magic and the presence of spirits, fey creatures and even zombies) are all nice touches, they definitely make the world of the book engaging. There were quite a few scenes that were playing out in cemeteries and.. well yeah... you can imagine, the mood was set. Loved them!
I kind of knew where the author was leading me (which was not a problem at all, I bore in mind that the book is marketed for a younger audience), but still, the ride was so worth it! A Murder of Crows is a clever execution of a series of clever ideas, and it's only the beginning of a series. I have to say the bar is high, however I'm sure the author can work her magic in the second instalment too. I'm more than willing to join Abigail on another adventure.
I was a lucky girl; 2018 went out with a bang for me reading-wise. A Murder of Crows by Annie Kirke was the last book I read in 2018 and to tell the truth I'm grateful I could finish the year with such a delightful novel.
Abigail Crowe's father died and his spirit disappeared. Not long after, Abigail's mother brought her and her brother to this strange mansion where screams pierce through the walls at night. The uncle they haven't seen since she and William were little, most probably tampers with forbidden magic. The grounds around the house are off limits after sunset. There are closed doors wherever they go and Abigail keeps thinking about how her father couldn't deliver a probably important last message to his family. She suspects foul play. The living members of her family might be in danger too...
I was pleasantly surprised by this lovely gothic detective story.
Abigail, the young protagonist is hell-bent on finding out who murdered her father. It seems like he passed because of natural causes but she thinks she knows better. His spirit never showed during his resting (where the departing usually say their final goodbyes) and it was enough to raise her suspicion.
I enjoyed the pacing and how the tale was put together – there is real detective work; Abigail and her brother William are fiercely looking for answers and with the help of memorable side-characters (Emily, who Abigail keeps calling "Keeper of the Dead" and Beatrice the gardener who acts crazy most of the time) they soon start getting glimpses at the bigger picture.
The environment in which they investigate is dark and menacing, the mansion holds secrects just like the people who inhabit it. The fantasy/paranormal bits that colour the story (like the magic and the presence of spirits, fey creatures and even zombies) are all nice touches, they definitely make the world of the book engaging. There were quite a few scenes that were playing out in cemeteries and.. well yeah... you can imagine, the mood was set. Loved them!
I kind of knew where the author was leading me (which was not a problem at all, I bore in mind that the book is marketed for a younger audience), but still, the ride was so worth it! A Murder of Crows is a clever execution of a series of clever ideas, and it's only the beginning of a series. I have to say the bar is high, however I'm sure the author can work her magic in the second instalment too. I'm more than willing to join Abigail on another adventure.
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December 18, 2018I was sent the ebook from the publisher, but all thoughts are my own.
From the publisher's press release:
"A Murder of Crows is a Victorian fantasy, murder-mystery that is the first in a five-book series – The Ravenscourt Tragedies. With undertones of Coraline and the Murder Most Unladylike series, A Murder of Crows is a gothic adventure of magic, murder and family secrets."
My thoughts:
Coraline is not the only story I saw in A Murder of Crows. Images from The Secret Garden, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Ruby Holler, and perhaps a classic young or new adult story involving the fey realm (I had previously never read one) were also conjured up throughout the book. Thus, A Murder of Crows is not only the most recent addition to the ranks of whimsical mysteries in which children take center stage, but it’s an effective, spellbinding, and satisfactory combination of all the above.
I am so excited for the next installment(s) of this story - well done Annie Kirke!!
My full review can be read here.
From the publisher's press release:
"A Murder of Crows is a Victorian fantasy, murder-mystery that is the first in a five-book series – The Ravenscourt Tragedies. With undertones of Coraline and the Murder Most Unladylike series, A Murder of Crows is a gothic adventure of magic, murder and family secrets."
My thoughts:
Coraline is not the only story I saw in A Murder of Crows. Images from The Secret Garden, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Ruby Holler, and perhaps a classic young or new adult story involving the fey realm (I had previously never read one) were also conjured up throughout the book. Thus, A Murder of Crows is not only the most recent addition to the ranks of whimsical mysteries in which children take center stage, but it’s an effective, spellbinding, and satisfactory combination of all the above.
I am so excited for the next installment(s) of this story - well done Annie Kirke!!
My full review can be read here.
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