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The Croaking #1
The Croaking, Vol. 1: At First Flight
The Roost - the world’s most prestigious military academy - has never accepted a Crow into its ranks. Until now. However, the conditions surrounding Scra’s acceptance are shrouded in conspiracy, and his new roommate Ky won’t rest until he finds out just where he goes every night. Between flight tests, classes, and Murders, Scra, Ky and Ree must band together to uncover the truth about their utopia and the whispers of a superweapon - “The Croaking” - that are seeping from the cracks.
The Croaking was nominated for the 2020 Ringo Award for Best Webcomic.
The Roost - the world’s most prestigious military academy - has never accepted a Crow into its ranks. Until now. However, the conditions surrounding Scra’s acceptance are shrouded in conspiracy, and his new roommate Ky won’t rest until he finds out just where he goes every night. Between flight tests, classes, and Murders, Scra, Ky and Ree must band together to uncover the truth about their utopia and the whispers of a superweapon - “The Croaking” - that are seeping from the cracks.
The Croaking was nominated for the 2020 Ringo Award for Best Webcomic.
The Roost - the world’s most prestigious military academy - has never accepted a Crow into its ranks. Until now. However, the conditions surrounding Scra’s acceptance are shrouded in conspiracy, and his new roommate Ky won’t rest until he finds out just where he goes every night. Between flight tests, classes, and Murders, Scra, Ky and Ree must band together to uncover the truth about their utopia and the whispers of a superweapon - “The Croaking” - that are seeping from the cracks.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2021
31 people are currently reading
1058 people want to read
About the author
Megan Grey
7 books54 followersMegan Grey is a writer of fantasy and science fiction, and an avid reader of just about anything. Her stories have appeared in Fireside Magazine, Sibyl's Scriptorium, and in "One Horn to Rule Them All: a Purple Unicorn Anthology". She has won several awards for her fiction, including both the Editor's and Readers Choice grand prize in a contest for the Animism: The Gods' Lake animated TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
September 18, 2022
The Croaking has been sitting on the top shelf of my bookcase for several months. I kept saying I was saving it but I’m not really sure what I thought I was saving it for. I’ve been very apprehensive to read it because I knew it could end up being an absolute favourite. I was worried I would hate it.
Every time I look at the cover it makes me feel warm - those boys look so wholesome. I am a sucker for stunning art, and isn’t it just incredible? The Croaking has some of the strongest art I’ve seen in a graphic novel. It’s not just the beautifully drawn characters, it’s the way emotion is conveyed through the drawings that is most impressive.
I love this graphic novel. I’ll start by saying that. I love the world, the characters, the relationships and the history. Was this first volume the most action packed instalment of all time? No. It’s not about that. Volume 1 is just the beginning, and I felt that throughout. This has so much potential. There are very few graphic novel series that perfectly fit my tastes. The kind that I can pick up and easily fall back into the story. The ones that give me comfort. Fence, Check Please, & Heartstopper come to mind. I’d like to tentatively slot The Croaking into that list.
I’m ready for volume two. I can’t wait to experience the same feeling as when I return to my favourite worlds. I know the rest of the comic is already available online, but I want to savour, not devour, this story. I want to be able to flick through the pages of each physical instalment.
Scra is the tortured boy we all want to protect. Including, apparently, his new roommate Ky, who is entirely obsessed and in love with him. Scra is angry, broken and flawed. Ky is sweet, earnest and warm. They are opposites, but drawn together by emotions they both feel and are not ready to confront.
Yes, I’ve fallen for yet another grumpy x sunshine dynamic. At least I’m consistent.
I love the mystery and intrigue of the academy and how the story draws on elements of dark academia - with the most interesting fantasy twist. The class system is something I want to be explored more. I’d love to know why the Crows are devalued and enjoy how the author alludes to historical conflict between the different classes. I loved how everyone seems to have their own domain. The crows dominate the shadowy underworld, and there is so much more to explore there.
This first volume has a lovely arc. It’s about learning to let go of fear and embracing change. Scra has a decision to make and the volume concludes with his choice, which is definitely going to have serious consequences moving forward.
I’ll leave you with this advice - read this graphic novel. What do you have to lose? If you love it, please let me know!
I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
Every time I look at the cover it makes me feel warm - those boys look so wholesome. I am a sucker for stunning art, and isn’t it just incredible? The Croaking has some of the strongest art I’ve seen in a graphic novel. It’s not just the beautifully drawn characters, it’s the way emotion is conveyed through the drawings that is most impressive.
I love this graphic novel. I’ll start by saying that. I love the world, the characters, the relationships and the history. Was this first volume the most action packed instalment of all time? No. It’s not about that. Volume 1 is just the beginning, and I felt that throughout. This has so much potential. There are very few graphic novel series that perfectly fit my tastes. The kind that I can pick up and easily fall back into the story. The ones that give me comfort. Fence, Check Please, & Heartstopper come to mind. I’d like to tentatively slot The Croaking into that list.
I’m ready for volume two. I can’t wait to experience the same feeling as when I return to my favourite worlds. I know the rest of the comic is already available online, but I want to savour, not devour, this story. I want to be able to flick through the pages of each physical instalment.
Scra is the tortured boy we all want to protect. Including, apparently, his new roommate Ky, who is entirely obsessed and in love with him. Scra is angry, broken and flawed. Ky is sweet, earnest and warm. They are opposites, but drawn together by emotions they both feel and are not ready to confront.
Yes, I’ve fallen for yet another grumpy x sunshine dynamic. At least I’m consistent.
I love the mystery and intrigue of the academy and how the story draws on elements of dark academia - with the most interesting fantasy twist. The class system is something I want to be explored more. I’d love to know why the Crows are devalued and enjoy how the author alludes to historical conflict between the different classes. I loved how everyone seems to have their own domain. The crows dominate the shadowy underworld, and there is so much more to explore there.
This first volume has a lovely arc. It’s about learning to let go of fear and embracing change. Scra has a decision to make and the volume concludes with his choice, which is definitely going to have serious consequences moving forward.
I’ll leave you with this advice - read this graphic novel. What do you have to lose? If you love it, please let me know!
I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
February 9, 2022
I had read this previously on Webtoon. I enjoyed reading it just as much as the second time around. I'm not caught up with it, and I haven't decided if I'm going to wait for a physical volume 2 or just read it on webtoon.
The Croaking follows two new recruits to the military academy known as The Roost. Ky is an osprey and Scra is a crow. Both are outsiders as The Roost mainly consists of Eagles and Hawks, and is very hierarchical. However, things are much worse for Crows and Scra is shunned and is seen as a pariah as soon as he arrives.
Ky and Scra have already met the summer before class starts. But when their assigned as roommates, Scra acts as if the summer never happened.
Volume One really leaves you hungry for more. Scra's background. Ky and Scra's relationship. School dynamics that seem to mirror the outside world. The history of the world. Really looking forward to how it progresses in the next volume.
The Croaking follows two new recruits to the military academy known as The Roost. Ky is an osprey and Scra is a crow. Both are outsiders as The Roost mainly consists of Eagles and Hawks, and is very hierarchical. However, things are much worse for Crows and Scra is shunned and is seen as a pariah as soon as he arrives.
Ky and Scra have already met the summer before class starts. But when their assigned as roommates, Scra acts as if the summer never happened.
Volume One really leaves you hungry for more. Scra's background. Ky and Scra's relationship. School dynamics that seem to mirror the outside world. The history of the world. Really looking forward to how it progresses in the next volume.
February 27, 2022
4.5
A big island populated by avian people while the rest of the world is inhabitable after the crow wars. At least that is what the history books are saying but we all know history is written by the winners. Only fact is that corvids live on the shady fringes of society and crows rule the underworld. The legitimate version of power is save below the wings of birds of prey. So you can imagine the effect seeing a crow to be accepted at the prestigious military academy where the higher ranks are limited to eagles and where there is a history of small bird cadets sudden disappearance. Scra's attitude and secretive nature doesn't help and it's not only rumors and passive animosity he has to face.
But the story doesn't start at that point but some short weeks prior high on a cliff outside of the city where Ky and Scra met for the first time by chance. Each with his own reason to search for the nightly quietude but while Scra protects himself with layers of moroseness, Ky, the country boy from the far away coast, can't be discouraged so easily. An osprey and a crow, an unlikely match for a few nights where their solitude bubble would allow some kind of tentative friendship but then the bubble bursts and Scra disappears.
Of course they meet again and of course they're become roommates at the academy, if you can call it roommates while one of them is rarely in the room and obviously prefers to spend his nights somewhere else. It's going to be a long way for them, a long and not easy way and neither one of them sees what's so obvious, that they care about each other. We don't even know if they are aware of their own sexuality. There's not much time to talk with everything that's going on around them, with the academy a micro cosmos of the avian society with the tendency to be as muddy as the dark world outside with their murder of crows and devious magpies and then there is also the fact that Scra's not the only one with a wearing past and while at the end of the book we know about his past, Ky's still a secret.
There's so much still to say about the story, about Ky and Scra and their friend Ree (as a kestrel she's also not exactly part of the leading crowd), about the painting and coloring, the perfect world building and the unfortunate open end … but read it on your own. If you're into graphic novel, angst and this kind of fantasy without shifter magic but people with wings and if you like to wait for the first kiss because you're a sucker for sweet tension and and nervous anticipation while being completely distracted by a complex, exiting story, you won't regret it.
I for myself have to go now to the web comic version because I can't wait for the next book to be published (and as a bonus the web comic seemed to have at the end of an episode a short character sheet of the cast which is helpful because it wasn't always easy for me to remember all the support characters or get their bird … which is the main reason for the downgraded stars).
A big island populated by avian people while the rest of the world is inhabitable after the crow wars. At least that is what the history books are saying but we all know history is written by the winners. Only fact is that corvids live on the shady fringes of society and crows rule the underworld. The legitimate version of power is save below the wings of birds of prey. So you can imagine the effect seeing a crow to be accepted at the prestigious military academy where the higher ranks are limited to eagles and where there is a history of small bird cadets sudden disappearance. Scra's attitude and secretive nature doesn't help and it's not only rumors and passive animosity he has to face.
But the story doesn't start at that point but some short weeks prior high on a cliff outside of the city where Ky and Scra met for the first time by chance. Each with his own reason to search for the nightly quietude but while Scra protects himself with layers of moroseness, Ky, the country boy from the far away coast, can't be discouraged so easily. An osprey and a crow, an unlikely match for a few nights where their solitude bubble would allow some kind of tentative friendship but then the bubble bursts and Scra disappears.
Of course they meet again and of course they're become roommates at the academy, if you can call it roommates while one of them is rarely in the room and obviously prefers to spend his nights somewhere else. It's going to be a long way for them, a long and not easy way and neither one of them sees what's so obvious, that they care about each other. We don't even know if they are aware of their own sexuality. There's not much time to talk with everything that's going on around them, with the academy a micro cosmos of the avian society with the tendency to be as muddy as the dark world outside with their murder of crows and devious magpies and then there is also the fact that Scra's not the only one with a wearing past and while at the end of the book we know about his past, Ky's still a secret.
There's so much still to say about the story, about Ky and Scra and their friend Ree (as a kestrel she's also not exactly part of the leading crowd), about the painting and coloring, the perfect world building and the unfortunate open end … but read it on your own. If you're into graphic novel, angst and this kind of fantasy without shifter magic but people with wings and if you like to wait for the first kiss because you're a sucker for sweet tension and and nervous anticipation while being completely distracted by a complex, exiting story, you won't regret it.
I for myself have to go now to the web comic version because I can't wait for the next book to be published (and as a bonus the web comic seemed to have at the end of an episode a short character sheet of the cast which is helpful because it wasn't always easy for me to remember all the support characters or get their bird … which is the main reason for the downgraded stars).
March 26, 2023
L’univers et les personnages sont hyper prometteurs mais j’ai trouvé que c’était peut être un peut trop introductif… ? Un peu lent ? En tout cas j’ai bien aimé mais j’ai surtout hâte d’avoir la suite pour en savoir plus !
February 13, 2025
I absolutely loved this graphic novel it was so freaking cute and I loved the two main characters 😍
March 16, 2022
How can winged people wear T-shirts? The more I read, the more I thought about it.
I'm in a minority here, but I didn't like The Croaking that much.
First, I love reading in bed, even if the lighting in my room isn't ideal. It works 99% of the times, but not this time because the comics is mostly set at night. A lot of panels were simply too dark, so I'd recommend reading this with a bright light next to it. It improves the reading.
Secondly, I often got the reading order wrong. The author didn't really know where to put her balloons so that a reader could follow the right path. I mean, I've been reading comics for thirty years, I know my way around them, and yet here I realized multiple times that I needed to go back.
I sort of liked the story, but I felt it needed some more explanations. The world-building was a bit sketchy, and sometimes I couldn't tell the characters apart, especially the two female ones.
I'm interested enough so I think it's likely I'll back the second volume too.
I'm in a minority here, but I didn't like The Croaking that much.
First, I love reading in bed, even if the lighting in my room isn't ideal. It works 99% of the times, but not this time because the comics is mostly set at night. A lot of panels were simply too dark, so I'd recommend reading this with a bright light next to it. It improves the reading.
Secondly, I often got the reading order wrong. The author didn't really know where to put her balloons so that a reader could follow the right path. I mean, I've been reading comics for thirty years, I know my way around them, and yet here I realized multiple times that I needed to go back.
I sort of liked the story, but I felt it needed some more explanations. The world-building was a bit sketchy, and sometimes I couldn't tell the characters apart, especially the two female ones.
I'm interested enough so I think it's likely I'll back the second volume too.
November 5, 2024
Ky and Scra 🖤
October 27, 2022
(3.5/5) I thought the premise of this was really interesting and I’m curious where all the threads go but also it wasn’t my absolute favourite. The world and characters didn’t feel as fleshed out as I’d like. That being said I’m definitely interested in picking up the second volume when it comes out!
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November 22, 2022evo iskreno nije dovoljno gay za mene.
June 13, 2025
Wow,
By the end of this novel, I wanted to throw it across the room because I needed more and what do you mean the book is over? I am so attached to these characters and the idea of it is so unique and cool and awesome and I love everything about it. I need 15 more books like this thank you very much.
By the end of this novel, I wanted to throw it across the room because I needed more and what do you mean the book is over? I am so attached to these characters and the idea of it is so unique and cool and awesome and I love everything about it. I need 15 more books like this thank you very much.
May 9, 2023
4,5 : c’était trop cool, je veux trop la suite
September 28, 2025
Ok but I don’t think I’ll continue. It reads like a webtoon more than any other webtoon book I’ve read. Just a series of cliffhangers and nothing gets resolved.
December 27, 2022
THE CROAKING is a webtoon that has been compiled into the first volume of the series. Scra, a crow, and Ky, an osprey, meet on a cliff in town and make a connection. When Ky starts at The Roost, a prestigious military academy, he learns that Scra is his roommate. But Scra skips class and never sleeps in his room. Ky becomes worried when Scra disappears and tries to find him.
I love this series of young adult bird-people who are dealing with the drama of school, yet are in this completely original world. The politics and past events are hinted at. Through the use of different bird species, the book explores gang violence and prejudice. The characters are beautifully rendered in writing and image.
I found this book online and I knew I had to have. I didn’t realize how beautiful the book itself would be. This hardcover has silver edged pages, a beautiful interior, and a ribbon bookmark. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, especially because this one ends in a bit of a cliffhanger.▪️
I love this series of young adult bird-people who are dealing with the drama of school, yet are in this completely original world. The politics and past events are hinted at. Through the use of different bird species, the book explores gang violence and prejudice. The characters are beautifully rendered in writing and image.
I found this book online and I knew I had to have. I didn’t realize how beautiful the book itself would be. This hardcover has silver edged pages, a beautiful interior, and a ribbon bookmark. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, especially because this one ends in a bit of a cliffhanger.▪️
November 18, 2025
3.5⭐️
Pour le moment j’aime bien, l’univers et les personnages ont l’air pas mal prometteurs, j’aime beaucoup cette idée d’oiseaux
Après, je dois avouer que je trouve le tome 1 un peu trop introductif et que, du coup, c’est un peu long par passage mais on veut quand même lire pour savoir la suite
PAR CONTRE….comment j’ai GALÉRÉ à lire les cases dans le bon ordre ?? Peut-être que je suis bête mais c’était infâme et non intuitif, j’ai du carrément relire plusieurs fois pour comprendre l’ordre 🫡
Pour le moment j’aime bien, l’univers et les personnages ont l’air pas mal prometteurs, j’aime beaucoup cette idée d’oiseaux
Après, je dois avouer que je trouve le tome 1 un peu trop introductif et que, du coup, c’est un peu long par passage mais on veut quand même lire pour savoir la suite
PAR CONTRE….comment j’ai GALÉRÉ à lire les cases dans le bon ordre ?? Peut-être que je suis bête mais c’était infâme et non intuitif, j’ai du carrément relire plusieurs fois pour comprendre l’ordre 🫡
August 19, 2023
August 2023. YA fantasy gay romance graphic novel about bird man youths going to bird man military academy and also there’s bird man species racism. Was on the fence between giving it a 3 and a 4.
The lighting was super off for dark/night scenes to the point of being genuinely hard to read. Seems like it wasn’t adjusted well from going from a digital product to print where it wouldn’t be backlit by the device.
The crow has to join a murder (gang) and do crimes etc and he doesn’t and he’s a lone crow and the osprey wants to be his friend. I liked this quite a bit, it had a familiar YA fantasy “species racism” element which always feels a bit questionable but the characters were likable and the art was great. This the first volume of a series so I’m curious to see what happens in the future. It left on a cliffhanger.
Presumably the name “Croaking” is also related to what it sounds like, “Crow King” but we should all be like “Dun dun DUNNN”
“The Croaking” volume 1 by Megan Grey.
The lighting was super off for dark/night scenes to the point of being genuinely hard to read. Seems like it wasn’t adjusted well from going from a digital product to print where it wouldn’t be backlit by the device.
The crow has to join a murder (gang) and do crimes etc and he doesn’t and he’s a lone crow and the osprey wants to be his friend. I liked this quite a bit, it had a familiar YA fantasy “species racism” element which always feels a bit questionable but the characters were likable and the art was great. This the first volume of a series so I’m curious to see what happens in the future. It left on a cliffhanger.
Presumably the name “Croaking” is also related to what it sounds like, “Crow King” but we should all be like “Dun dun DUNNN”
“The Croaking” volume 1 by Megan Grey.
March 31, 2022
Read this one in the middle of a burnout and did exactly what I wanted it to do.
It keep me engaged with complex characters and an interesting plot, using the idea of 'history is written by the winners' in a compelling way, while also discussing social injustice and hierarchies a lot. Also, it has queer characters.
Still not over the egg thing tho.
It keep me engaged with complex characters and an interesting plot, using the idea of 'history is written by the winners' in a compelling way, while also discussing social injustice and hierarchies a lot. Also, it has queer characters.
Still not over the egg thing tho.
August 4, 2022
Wow I am so sorry to be a hater. The storyline was very basic and the characters were unlikeable and there was not nearly enough dialogue and there were too many disconnections between the subplots and it was an actual chore to read through this. I’ve never really dragged my feet reading a graphic novel until this.
2 stars because the illustrations are GORGEOUS. This is definitely more of an artistic achievement rather than something with much of any literary scope.
2 stars because the illustrations are GORGEOUS. This is definitely more of an artistic achievement rather than something with much of any literary scope.
October 25, 2022
Beautiful hardcover book with silver edged pages and colorful artwork. My only complaint is that some of the drawings are quite dark, so it's hard to see all the lovely details. I loved the story, and loved the art style. It's too bad this is the only book, but it looks like there are loads more chapters online so I'm headed there asap to keep reading!
June 2, 2022
An interesting story about this society of bird people and the hatred of the crows. The pace is a little weird it jumps around in the beginning and left a lot of holes for the next vol. to fill. Not sure where its going to go... I'll just have to wait to see
April 9, 2022
3.5 rounded up, would be a solid 4 stars if not for the art issues
This was a very interesting start, definitely leaves you wanting more/curious about what's being set up. The characters and setting seem fun and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more, and hopefully we'll get more actual interactions between Scra, Ky, and Ree now too.
My only real critique is the art is very dark and hard to see at points, e.g. scenes set at night or in dark rooms, and the paneling and placement of word bubbles often makes it hard to follow, I'm not sure if it's because this started as a webcomic and had to be re-arranged for a physical printing or what. (And if perhaps the dark scenes were easier to see on a lit up screen.)
This was a very interesting start, definitely leaves you wanting more/curious about what's being set up. The characters and setting seem fun and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more, and hopefully we'll get more actual interactions between Scra, Ky, and Ree now too.
My only real critique is the art is very dark and hard to see at points, e.g. scenes set at night or in dark rooms, and the paneling and placement of word bubbles often makes it hard to follow, I'm not sure if it's because this started as a webcomic and had to be re-arranged for a physical printing or what. (And if perhaps the dark scenes were easier to see on a lit up screen.)
December 20, 2022
4,5 *
Zapowiada się bardzo ciekawie! Bardzo się cieszę, że to nie jest insta love.
Chętnie sięgnie po kolejną część tym bardziej, że bardzo ładnie jest wydana ta książka.
Zapowiada się bardzo ciekawie! Bardzo się cieszę, że to nie jest insta love.
Chętnie sięgnie po kolejną część tym bardziej, że bardzo ładnie jest wydana ta książka.
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January 15, 2023D'awe
February 12, 2023
I loved it so much when i've first read it on webtoon that i had to buy it to read it again. The plot, the drawing, the colour, the friendhsip, the love, everything is amazing.
August 17, 2023
WHERE THE FUCK IS VOLUME 2??????
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October 21, 2025im at season 3 rn (been reading this webtoon for a month and im obsessed) but im kinda shipping Tiraa and Cyras 🤗
January 22, 2024
Cool concept and it was a good palette cleanser - not a whole lot happens though. The art is really pretty but the panels in the whole last third were so dark I couldn’t even see them.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
March 23, 2022
OMGGGGGGGGGGGG!! I'm obsessed! I love the plot, I looooooooooooove the characters (especially my emo boy Scra) and can't wait to see this story develop! I dock one point for the art style, which was pretty minimalistic and sometimes made quite a few anatomical errors.
February 17, 2024
Very engaging and I LOVE the art!
January 29, 2022
I've been reading this webcomic for ages. I'm so mad that I didn't purchase this book when it was on kickstarter. But, luckily, my library got it and I picked it up super fast.
I love the art - but I have so many questions about what is going on! What is Scra really looking for? And, there is something up with Ky. I need so much more information.
I love the art - but I have so many questions about what is going on! What is Scra really looking for? And, there is something up with Ky. I need so much more information.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews