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The Crow's Gambit #1
The Blood of Crows
Ren, a state-trained thief working in a world where everyone has magical ability except for him, doesn’t kill people.
Tensions are already high in the walled realm of Lenmar, and when the nobility start dying with no trace of magic that isn’t from the victims, Ren immediately becomes the prime, and only suspect. Hunted by magic-eating Inquisitors and the Captain of the Royal Guard, his life becomes one of flight and fear through a realm on the brink of civil war.
All Ren wants to do is stop a serial killer, clear his name, find his mentor, and protect the people he cares about.
To do that, he’ll have to pull one more high-stakes heist— And steal the proof he needs from the very people who want to catch him.
Tensions are already high in the walled realm of Lenmar, and when the nobility start dying with no trace of magic that isn’t from the victims, Ren immediately becomes the prime, and only suspect. Hunted by magic-eating Inquisitors and the Captain of the Royal Guard, his life becomes one of flight and fear through a realm on the brink of civil war.
All Ren wants to do is stop a serial killer, clear his name, find his mentor, and protect the people he cares about.
To do that, he’ll have to pull one more high-stakes heist— And steal the proof he needs from the very people who want to catch him.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2022
16 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
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Alex C. Pierce
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 7, 2023
What an absolute thrill! This book has it all. I need more please tell me I’m getting more
March 27, 2023
4/5
-Heists
-Murder
-Loveable outcast protagonist
-Sweet slowburn romance
-Great character interactions
A heist story with a dark murder mystery threaded throughout the twists and turns. We meet Ren, a young man raised in the Thirty-Ninth, a unit of soldiers whose commander often sends them on less than lawful procurement missions. Ren is one of the best, his strange relationship with the "knacks" or magic of the world giving him unique abilities. But in this walled-in kingdom, death is lurking, and Ren finds himself in the crosshairs when the evidence in a string of murders begin pointing toward him.
I haven't had this much fun with a novel for a while! The main characters were refreshingly wholesome, a fresh take on young adult protagonists in a fantasy world. I enjoyed Ren as a main character immensely. This book sped through a plot of fast-paced rooftop chases, lockpicking and sigil-breaking, and slow rise of lethal tension.
The author breaks away from Ren's POV to give us snippets of the darker plotline, and there were quite a few moments when I was on the edge of a metaphorical seat while I sped through the book. The twists and turns are masterfully utilized for a breakneck pace throughout the story that doesn't feel rushed or messy.
The magic system in this story is fairly basic, with elemental "knacks" used by magically gifted characters. There are a few familiar tropes and cliches in this story, but they never felt obtrusive or boring. I really, really enjoyed this book.
Another major award I have to give this book is that it contains a soft romantic subplot that I actually loved. A young protagonist love story that I loved, guys. It surprised me too! There was such a wholesome authenticity to the romance, the banter and the moments of flirtatious shyness were sweet, not cheesy. And it didn't take away from the larger story at all.
Overall, this was a really fun read, and I'll definitely be upgrading my eBook copy to a physical to have this one on my shelf!
-Heists
-Murder
-Loveable outcast protagonist
-Sweet slowburn romance
-Great character interactions
A heist story with a dark murder mystery threaded throughout the twists and turns. We meet Ren, a young man raised in the Thirty-Ninth, a unit of soldiers whose commander often sends them on less than lawful procurement missions. Ren is one of the best, his strange relationship with the "knacks" or magic of the world giving him unique abilities. But in this walled-in kingdom, death is lurking, and Ren finds himself in the crosshairs when the evidence in a string of murders begin pointing toward him.
I haven't had this much fun with a novel for a while! The main characters were refreshingly wholesome, a fresh take on young adult protagonists in a fantasy world. I enjoyed Ren as a main character immensely. This book sped through a plot of fast-paced rooftop chases, lockpicking and sigil-breaking, and slow rise of lethal tension.
The author breaks away from Ren's POV to give us snippets of the darker plotline, and there were quite a few moments when I was on the edge of a metaphorical seat while I sped through the book. The twists and turns are masterfully utilized for a breakneck pace throughout the story that doesn't feel rushed or messy.
The magic system in this story is fairly basic, with elemental "knacks" used by magically gifted characters. There are a few familiar tropes and cliches in this story, but they never felt obtrusive or boring. I really, really enjoyed this book.
Another major award I have to give this book is that it contains a soft romantic subplot that I actually loved. A young protagonist love story that I loved, guys. It surprised me too! There was such a wholesome authenticity to the romance, the banter and the moments of flirtatious shyness were sweet, not cheesy. And it didn't take away from the larger story at all.
Overall, this was a really fun read, and I'll definitely be upgrading my eBook copy to a physical to have this one on my shelf!
April 26, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
Heist fantasy meets murder mystery in The Blood of Crows, a suspenseful and fast-paced romp perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora, Mistborn, and A Darker Shade of Magic!
The Blood of Crows kicks off with a pulse-pounding heist scene that immediately had me glued to the page, and somehow things only got more intense from there. Through the eyes of the plucky and snarky street-thief Ren, who is the only person in this walled-in realm who doesn’t have a magical knack, we are thrown into a crazy adventure full of mysterious murders, creepy magic-eating inquisitors, risky roof-top escapes, unlikely alliances, and dangerously riveting heists that will have you crowing with excitement.
Now, normally I prefer the more slow-burn stories that really take their time with the set-up, but the action-packed nature of The Blood of Crows didn’t bother me at all. From the very first page, I was just captivated by Ren’s intriguing backstory and strong inner voice. With his sharp wit and effortless charm, he smoothly navigates his way through this dangerous city, and I loved every single second of figuring out this confounding murder mystery with him; a murder mystery in which he is the prime suspect.
At times he did read a bit young for his supposed 21 years, but at the same time I found the silly moments of youthful naivety to be incredibly endearing. He is definitely not an innocent soul, having grown up in the shady unit of brutal soldiers called the Thirty-Ninth, but there’s somehow still a softness and innocence to him that made him such a delightfully lovable character.
Through his actions, his genuine love and care for the people he holds dear shows true, be that his concern for his missing mentor, his protectiveness over his little ‘adopted sister’, or the innocent budding romantic feelings for his accomplice Haim (THIS is how you do a sweet slow-burn romance subplot!!). Yes, The Blood of Crows is a fast-paced and action-packed narrative, but these beautifully developed and powerful interpersonal relationships are exactly what give the story so much heart and emotional resonance.
Don’t let all this talk of love and sweetness fool you into thinking that this is a light-hearted story though. This world is unforgivingly harsh, and there is no shortage of death, deceit, and brutal back stabbings and betrayals. I especially loved how Pierce broke away from Ren’s single POV narration a few times to include a couple of darkly disturbing and suspenseful interludes into the story, showing the victims of the serial killer in their last moments.
And for a story with such a contained setting, fast pacing, and intimate storytelling, I was honestly deeply impressed with how much world building Pierce was able to pack into these pages. Even though Ren himself doesn’t have any magic, we organically get to learn all the ins and outs about this unique elemental magic system, which sparked both wonder and fear in me. Moreover, the magic system is intricately interwoven with the cutthroat politics, and I loved how this tense political landscape unfolded in the most thrilling way.
This story is just brimming with suspense and intrigue from start to finish, be that from the riveting murder mystery clues, mystifying personal backstories, or little tantalising hints of the wider world and its secret looming threats. Sometimes I did wish for a little bit more time to catch my breath and process all the shocking revelations and implications, but at the same time I also loved the exciting ‘just one more chapter’ quality that makes The Blood of Crows such a dangerously addictive romp.
And after that deliciously satisfying shocker of an ending, I am extremely intrigued to see what crazily exciting twists and turns Pierce has up his sleeve in the next instalment of the Crow’s Gambit series. If you are looking for a fast-paced yet character-driven heist fantasy with a magical murder mystery, endearing morally gray characters, riveting suspense, and lots of witty dialogue and entertaining snark and banter, then I can’t recommend The Blood of Crows highly enough!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Heist fantasy meets murder mystery in The Blood of Crows, a suspenseful and fast-paced romp perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora, Mistborn, and A Darker Shade of Magic!
The Blood of Crows kicks off with a pulse-pounding heist scene that immediately had me glued to the page, and somehow things only got more intense from there. Through the eyes of the plucky and snarky street-thief Ren, who is the only person in this walled-in realm who doesn’t have a magical knack, we are thrown into a crazy adventure full of mysterious murders, creepy magic-eating inquisitors, risky roof-top escapes, unlikely alliances, and dangerously riveting heists that will have you crowing with excitement.
Now, normally I prefer the more slow-burn stories that really take their time with the set-up, but the action-packed nature of The Blood of Crows didn’t bother me at all. From the very first page, I was just captivated by Ren’s intriguing backstory and strong inner voice. With his sharp wit and effortless charm, he smoothly navigates his way through this dangerous city, and I loved every single second of figuring out this confounding murder mystery with him; a murder mystery in which he is the prime suspect.
At times he did read a bit young for his supposed 21 years, but at the same time I found the silly moments of youthful naivety to be incredibly endearing. He is definitely not an innocent soul, having grown up in the shady unit of brutal soldiers called the Thirty-Ninth, but there’s somehow still a softness and innocence to him that made him such a delightfully lovable character.
Through his actions, his genuine love and care for the people he holds dear shows true, be that his concern for his missing mentor, his protectiveness over his little ‘adopted sister’, or the innocent budding romantic feelings for his accomplice Haim (THIS is how you do a sweet slow-burn romance subplot!!). Yes, The Blood of Crows is a fast-paced and action-packed narrative, but these beautifully developed and powerful interpersonal relationships are exactly what give the story so much heart and emotional resonance.
Don’t let all this talk of love and sweetness fool you into thinking that this is a light-hearted story though. This world is unforgivingly harsh, and there is no shortage of death, deceit, and brutal back stabbings and betrayals. I especially loved how Pierce broke away from Ren’s single POV narration a few times to include a couple of darkly disturbing and suspenseful interludes into the story, showing the victims of the serial killer in their last moments.
And for a story with such a contained setting, fast pacing, and intimate storytelling, I was honestly deeply impressed with how much world building Pierce was able to pack into these pages. Even though Ren himself doesn’t have any magic, we organically get to learn all the ins and outs about this unique elemental magic system, which sparked both wonder and fear in me. Moreover, the magic system is intricately interwoven with the cutthroat politics, and I loved how this tense political landscape unfolded in the most thrilling way.
This story is just brimming with suspense and intrigue from start to finish, be that from the riveting murder mystery clues, mystifying personal backstories, or little tantalising hints of the wider world and its secret looming threats. Sometimes I did wish for a little bit more time to catch my breath and process all the shocking revelations and implications, but at the same time I also loved the exciting ‘just one more chapter’ quality that makes The Blood of Crows such a dangerously addictive romp.
And after that deliciously satisfying shocker of an ending, I am extremely intrigued to see what crazily exciting twists and turns Pierce has up his sleeve in the next instalment of the Crow’s Gambit series. If you are looking for a fast-paced yet character-driven heist fantasy with a magical murder mystery, endearing morally gray characters, riveting suspense, and lots of witty dialogue and entertaining snark and banter, then I can’t recommend The Blood of Crows highly enough!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 28, 2025
Review originally posted on the SFF Insiders website:
https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/revi...
Once again there were a couple of things that drew me to this book. For one was the cover, done by Thea Magerand, as it is jaw droppingly beautiful. The colors just mesmerized me and I needed to know what this book could possibly be about. The next item that hooked me was that this is a heist novel. Between those two items, I knew that I would be reading this book. After reading just the first few pages, I forgot about what really brought me to the story and just enjoyed the narrative that was being shared in these pages. It is a story that will hook you from the very beginning and not let go until you are left gasping for the sequel. It felt like a blend of all of my favorite heist movies all combined together in a fantasy world. The stakes seem to get higher and higher in no time at all, leading to an explosion of epic proportions. This is the type of story that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.
The strength of the novel is hard to pinpoint. The mystery of what is going on is something that will compel readers to keep reading to know what is happening. For me the magic is very strong and really makes the story it’s most dynamic. The rules that it follows are easy to understand but also make it more real. The limits allow it to be more powerful than some magics, but are tempered in a lot of interesting ways. The heist is also a focal point, not just for the main character of Ren to learn skills. He is talented and I love the way in which the heist is planned and carried out. Throughout all of this is the subtle blending of relationships between all of the characters. I really liked most of them and was cheering to know more about how the characters would work together as well as become closer together. There are times where the pacing might pull a reader out of the story and make it a little more difficult to be fully immersed. It is moderately paced with some exciting moments that will really stand out. The world is awesome and there is a lot of politics that are going on behind the scenes. I do wish that I was able to get more understanding of these politics as it would have made me more immersed in what was happening around the characters.
I am impressed with this debut from Alex C. Pierce, a true testament to the heist genre. I feel that this is the type of book that will gain a cult following and will be championed by many readers who discover much in the same way that I did. After falling prey to the beauty of the cover, I was sucked in by the beauty of the words that were used to tell this story. I know that I will count myself as a big fan of the author and hope for his continued success as it is a story that I am very much eager to keep learning more and more. The heists are best compared to that of Ocean’s 11 with that touch of magic that will tickle the fancy of the fantasy reader. I encourage all types of readers to try this one. It is a fast read that will leave everyone wondering how they can steal the next one before the story is finished.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/revi...
Once again there were a couple of things that drew me to this book. For one was the cover, done by Thea Magerand, as it is jaw droppingly beautiful. The colors just mesmerized me and I needed to know what this book could possibly be about. The next item that hooked me was that this is a heist novel. Between those two items, I knew that I would be reading this book. After reading just the first few pages, I forgot about what really brought me to the story and just enjoyed the narrative that was being shared in these pages. It is a story that will hook you from the very beginning and not let go until you are left gasping for the sequel. It felt like a blend of all of my favorite heist movies all combined together in a fantasy world. The stakes seem to get higher and higher in no time at all, leading to an explosion of epic proportions. This is the type of story that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.
The strength of the novel is hard to pinpoint. The mystery of what is going on is something that will compel readers to keep reading to know what is happening. For me the magic is very strong and really makes the story it’s most dynamic. The rules that it follows are easy to understand but also make it more real. The limits allow it to be more powerful than some magics, but are tempered in a lot of interesting ways. The heist is also a focal point, not just for the main character of Ren to learn skills. He is talented and I love the way in which the heist is planned and carried out. Throughout all of this is the subtle blending of relationships between all of the characters. I really liked most of them and was cheering to know more about how the characters would work together as well as become closer together. There are times where the pacing might pull a reader out of the story and make it a little more difficult to be fully immersed. It is moderately paced with some exciting moments that will really stand out. The world is awesome and there is a lot of politics that are going on behind the scenes. I do wish that I was able to get more understanding of these politics as it would have made me more immersed in what was happening around the characters.
I am impressed with this debut from Alex C. Pierce, a true testament to the heist genre. I feel that this is the type of book that will gain a cult following and will be championed by many readers who discover much in the same way that I did. After falling prey to the beauty of the cover, I was sucked in by the beauty of the words that were used to tell this story. I know that I will count myself as a big fan of the author and hope for his continued success as it is a story that I am very much eager to keep learning more and more. The heists are best compared to that of Ocean’s 11 with that touch of magic that will tickle the fancy of the fantasy reader. I encourage all types of readers to try this one. It is a fast read that will leave everyone wondering how they can steal the next one before the story is finished.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
October 11, 2022
This was part of #SPFBO book club on the SPFBO community discord server, it’s also a semifinalist in SPFBO 8 and at the moment of this review, still in the running to be a finalist. I read this via audiobook and the narrator although new to me, I liked. He had an animated bouncy voice which was a bit exaggerated but that works for me. Having a more animated voice and different voices for the characters grabs my attention which I really need right now, I’m very distractable at the moment.
So this starts out with Ren being a conscripted soldier, it was mentioned in the book how long each person has to serve in the Army but I honestly forget, but it’s a while. The particular group that Ren has been assigned to is known for being full of brutal murderers, I believe conscription to the Army can also be a punishment but I honestly can’t recall. His friend and mentor buys out his conscription when his service date is up, and essentially sets him free. He’s the youngest person to be freed from the Army in generations, possibly ever. But the freedom is short lived because something known as the Inquisitors come for them both and they want them dead for reasons Ren doesn’t understand yet.
Inquisitors are other worldly creatures used as hounds almost to hunt down people the government wants arrested/killed. They are sentient and talk, but they aren’t ‘people’, they’re unquestioningly obedient, or so it seems. There’s a limited number of them, and supposedly they are all under strict control so those in charge know exactly where tehy are and what they’re doing.
So, after being freed from one kind of imprisonment, he runs from the inquisitors to find himself in a different predicament — the prime suspect of multiple murders. He shows up bloody in front of a university where someone was just murdered which doesn’t make him look good. He’s under investigation and has to prove himself innocent throughout most of the book.
Magic is super prevalent in this world, most people can use at least one kind of magic known as a ‘knack’. Some women can use more than one kind of magic, but for whatever reason, men are limited to one. This often makes men very good at one specific craft while women can be more generalized. This is all well and good, except, Ren has no powers at all. He kept waiting for it to come on during puberty and it just never does. What’s going on with him and his magic is a big part of the story and the part I found most interesting.
The world building is just fantastic here, a lot of things are thoroughly explored and created a depth and realness. There’s a lot of different rules and whatnot to the magic system, which was largely elemental based. I seem to be hitting a lot of those recently but I don’t mind, I’m someone who likes both magic systems and elemental stuff. There’s more than just magic to the world building. I felt like enough of the governing system, religion, city architecture, technology were all explained enough so that the whole thing came together smoothly. I wasn’t left with a lot of questions that I feel were unintentionally left unanswered — there are still some things to come and be explained, but it feels purposeful not confusing. One of the best aspects of this is that there was very little info dumping considering he was at a university where sometimes that’s used as an excuse to just drop paragraphs of awkward information on the reader through classes and history lessons. There was a little bit of that, but it wasn’t jarring or boring.
The tone was something I appreciated, it’s a really difficult balance to keep something fun while also having a darker undertone. The murders that are happening around the city are done in the POV of the person murdered, so that set a more serious undertone to this bantery, snarky, witty MC. I think without the severity of the murders I would have been a little bored. I’d also like the praise the characterization of these brief interlude chapters where these women are being murdered, they felt like real people even though they were only on the page for a short period of time. It leant emotion to what otherwise could be a curiosity only, and not something I was emotionally invested in.
I was not a huge fan of the romance — but I think I say that more often than not when it comes to a romance. I didn’t hate it, I just never warmed up to the love interest and so it never fully clicked for me. Other than that I don’t have a whole lot of complaints about this one. The pacing was well done, the writing was fluid and fast with dialogue that was believable. I got a good sense for how things looked which isn’t totally common with me. I suppose, once again, fake cursing does not go over with me well, but your mileage will vary with that. I think I am slightly adjacent to the target audience, and had I been the target I think I would have loved it. The MC was a little young for my taste, but there was nothing wrong with him. The book is very good at what it is, a fun magical adventure coming of age story.
Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone who likes lots of magic, murder mysteries, likable witty MCs, and good audiobooks!
Ratings:
Plot: 12/15
Characters: 12/15
World Building: 13/15
Writing: 12/15
Pacing: 12/15
Originality: 11/15
Enjoyment: 7/10
Final Score: 79/100
So this starts out with Ren being a conscripted soldier, it was mentioned in the book how long each person has to serve in the Army but I honestly forget, but it’s a while. The particular group that Ren has been assigned to is known for being full of brutal murderers, I believe conscription to the Army can also be a punishment but I honestly can’t recall. His friend and mentor buys out his conscription when his service date is up, and essentially sets him free. He’s the youngest person to be freed from the Army in generations, possibly ever. But the freedom is short lived because something known as the Inquisitors come for them both and they want them dead for reasons Ren doesn’t understand yet.
Inquisitors are other worldly creatures used as hounds almost to hunt down people the government wants arrested/killed. They are sentient and talk, but they aren’t ‘people’, they’re unquestioningly obedient, or so it seems. There’s a limited number of them, and supposedly they are all under strict control so those in charge know exactly where tehy are and what they’re doing.
So, after being freed from one kind of imprisonment, he runs from the inquisitors to find himself in a different predicament — the prime suspect of multiple murders. He shows up bloody in front of a university where someone was just murdered which doesn’t make him look good. He’s under investigation and has to prove himself innocent throughout most of the book.
Magic is super prevalent in this world, most people can use at least one kind of magic known as a ‘knack’. Some women can use more than one kind of magic, but for whatever reason, men are limited to one. This often makes men very good at one specific craft while women can be more generalized. This is all well and good, except, Ren has no powers at all. He kept waiting for it to come on during puberty and it just never does. What’s going on with him and his magic is a big part of the story and the part I found most interesting.
The world building is just fantastic here, a lot of things are thoroughly explored and created a depth and realness. There’s a lot of different rules and whatnot to the magic system, which was largely elemental based. I seem to be hitting a lot of those recently but I don’t mind, I’m someone who likes both magic systems and elemental stuff. There’s more than just magic to the world building. I felt like enough of the governing system, religion, city architecture, technology were all explained enough so that the whole thing came together smoothly. I wasn’t left with a lot of questions that I feel were unintentionally left unanswered — there are still some things to come and be explained, but it feels purposeful not confusing. One of the best aspects of this is that there was very little info dumping considering he was at a university where sometimes that’s used as an excuse to just drop paragraphs of awkward information on the reader through classes and history lessons. There was a little bit of that, but it wasn’t jarring or boring.
The tone was something I appreciated, it’s a really difficult balance to keep something fun while also having a darker undertone. The murders that are happening around the city are done in the POV of the person murdered, so that set a more serious undertone to this bantery, snarky, witty MC. I think without the severity of the murders I would have been a little bored. I’d also like the praise the characterization of these brief interlude chapters where these women are being murdered, they felt like real people even though they were only on the page for a short period of time. It leant emotion to what otherwise could be a curiosity only, and not something I was emotionally invested in.
I was not a huge fan of the romance — but I think I say that more often than not when it comes to a romance. I didn’t hate it, I just never warmed up to the love interest and so it never fully clicked for me. Other than that I don’t have a whole lot of complaints about this one. The pacing was well done, the writing was fluid and fast with dialogue that was believable. I got a good sense for how things looked which isn’t totally common with me. I suppose, once again, fake cursing does not go over with me well, but your mileage will vary with that. I think I am slightly adjacent to the target audience, and had I been the target I think I would have loved it. The MC was a little young for my taste, but there was nothing wrong with him. The book is very good at what it is, a fun magical adventure coming of age story.
Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone who likes lots of magic, murder mysteries, likable witty MCs, and good audiobooks!
Ratings:
Plot: 12/15
Characters: 12/15
World Building: 13/15
Writing: 12/15
Pacing: 12/15
Originality: 11/15
Enjoyment: 7/10
Final Score: 79/100
April 26, 2025
A fun heisty read with lovable characters!
January 29, 2023
The Blood of Crows is an audiobook that was offered to me by the author. The cover really stood out to me and the blurb sounded very interesting too. It’s also nice to sometimes have a fantasy book that isn’t super long despite loving chonkers.
Despite the shorter size for this genre, the author still managed to really pack some things in here. I love what we learned about the magic system so far and how he wove the reveal about that into the story as it unfolds. It never felt like just an info dump to me. At the same time though, I really would’ve loved to learn more about this world already. This was a good setup for future books though in that sense.
I got really attached to the characters really quickly. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of some of the adult male voices in the audiobook (they weren’t bad but they were often so similar to each other that I thought someone we already knew was speaking rather than a new person), I did really like the narrator’s voice for the MC and story narration. For that, this seemed the perfect fit. Between him and the author’s writing, they created a character I loved to follow, root for, and worry about.
While the writing did remind me a little bit of a YA book here and there, the content definitely didn’t. I loved the way we experienced the murders by the serial killer and some of those descriptions are definitely meant for adult books. That’s how I love it though. Give me all the darkness.
The cleverness of some of the characters was a refreshing and entertaining break from the seriousness. I keep seeing people mention the romance in this book but I found that factor to be a really small part of this story so it shouldn’t keep you from picking this book up. There is much more of a focus on platonic relationships and loyalty, some formed over years and others over days, which adds some interesting dynamics.
I love it when you can slowly piece some things together and guess part of the ending. The author managed not only that though. He also ended up totally blowing my mind and has me desperate for the next book. I cannot wait for its release later this year!
Despite the shorter size for this genre, the author still managed to really pack some things in here. I love what we learned about the magic system so far and how he wove the reveal about that into the story as it unfolds. It never felt like just an info dump to me. At the same time though, I really would’ve loved to learn more about this world already. This was a good setup for future books though in that sense.
I got really attached to the characters really quickly. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of some of the adult male voices in the audiobook (they weren’t bad but they were often so similar to each other that I thought someone we already knew was speaking rather than a new person), I did really like the narrator’s voice for the MC and story narration. For that, this seemed the perfect fit. Between him and the author’s writing, they created a character I loved to follow, root for, and worry about.
While the writing did remind me a little bit of a YA book here and there, the content definitely didn’t. I loved the way we experienced the murders by the serial killer and some of those descriptions are definitely meant for adult books. That’s how I love it though. Give me all the darkness.
The cleverness of some of the characters was a refreshing and entertaining break from the seriousness. I keep seeing people mention the romance in this book but I found that factor to be a really small part of this story so it shouldn’t keep you from picking this book up. There is much more of a focus on platonic relationships and loyalty, some formed over years and others over days, which adds some interesting dynamics.
I love it when you can slowly piece some things together and guess part of the ending. The author managed not only that though. He also ended up totally blowing my mind and has me desperate for the next book. I cannot wait for its release later this year!
September 2, 2023
This is one of those books that has all elements of a book I should love, heists, action, romance, but it didn't really work for me and I know why.
I am not a big fan of utilitarian prose. I have this same issue with Sanderson and Sullivan. While I like the stories, the writing grates a bit. Many people enjoy how accessible these authors are and I get it. They are easy to read. I do want more from the writing though, and that's where this book falls short for me.
There is a ton of action, a great number of heists, cool magic and a bit of mystery at the heart of this story. I'd recommend it to any fantasy fan and definitely to those looking for quick, accessible reads.
I am not a big fan of utilitarian prose. I have this same issue with Sanderson and Sullivan. While I like the stories, the writing grates a bit. Many people enjoy how accessible these authors are and I get it. They are easy to read. I do want more from the writing though, and that's where this book falls short for me.
There is a ton of action, a great number of heists, cool magic and a bit of mystery at the heart of this story. I'd recommend it to any fantasy fan and definitely to those looking for quick, accessible reads.
May 16, 2023
This was a super solid debut book.
It's gives off the Michael Sullivan - Riyria vibes, but with a YA spin.
I thought the author did a great job at maintaining a superb paced story, whilst packing in character introduction and development
I really appreciated the plot twist and low-key enjoyed the budding romance within the story.
A good book
It's gives off the Michael Sullivan - Riyria vibes, but with a YA spin.
I thought the author did a great job at maintaining a superb paced story, whilst packing in character introduction and development
I really appreciated the plot twist and low-key enjoyed the budding romance within the story.
A good book
April 5, 2023
I thought the MC would be more of a badass but he wasn’t. Not at all. Always hurt and I found him a little immature. Just my opinion but I just didn’t like this like I thought I would.
March 16, 2023
A lotta lotta fun with unexpected depth. A blast of a heist novel. Full review to come
October 12, 2022
This book was a surprise -- the beginning felt like a typical, enjoyable heist fantasy, but then darker powers came into play and the and the plot began to thicken nicely.
Our Hero, Ren, is talented at thievery, but, ahem, less proficient at love and swordplay, and the tone of the story is alternately slyly humorous and dark and suspenseful, but even with the afore-mentioned SPOILER, it never crosses the line into grimdark.
I finished the book in a hurry, as I had to know the fate of a character I had really come to like, young inventor Molly Quinn, better with gadgets than with people. The ending was satisfying and brings with it a few more surprises.
Definitely recommended.
Our Hero, Ren, is talented at thievery, but, ahem, less proficient at love and swordplay, and the tone of the story is alternately slyly humorous and dark and suspenseful, but even with the afore-mentioned SPOILER, it never crosses the line into grimdark.
I finished the book in a hurry, as I had to know the fate of a character I had really come to like, young inventor Molly Quinn, better with gadgets than with people. The ending was satisfying and brings with it a few more surprises.
Definitely recommended.
April 23, 2024
Loved this story a lot especially the unique magic system and the original lore of the world. The pacing was good and I liked the scenes where Ren was in his element as a master thief especially the heist scene at the beginning of the book really captured my attention. The side characters were well fleshed out and had their own unique personalities. The murder mystery was very well written and seamlessly blended in the overarching plot of the whole series though I'm still a little confused about the motive behind the murders.
Overall a great action packed quick read with is full of suspense and intrigue. Definitely reccomend!
Overall a great action packed quick read with is full of suspense and intrigue. Definitely reccomend!
October 22, 2024
This action-packed fantasy story captured my attention right away. I enjoyed the cast of characters, the high-stakes plot, and the magic system, which is based on elements.
With added murder mystery and heist, pacing was not a problem.
I will pick up the next book soon to see how this series continues.
With added murder mystery and heist, pacing was not a problem.
I will pick up the next book soon to see how this series continues.
October 14, 2022
Yes. This was a good book. You know its good when the twist happens and you kick yourself for not seeing it sooner.
I like when an author takes a basic concept like elemental magic and adds a fresh twist to it. I liked the matriarchal nature of this society and how it was written. It wasn't shoved in our faces. It was just there. None of the characters seemed bothered by it. It's the way things were.
The small interludes with the scions were a nice touch.
The humour was on point and Ren's sarcasm was delightful. He strikes me as being a very 'thank you, Captina Obvious' kind of character and I'm here for it.
I'm sad the second book isn't available yet.
I like when an author takes a basic concept like elemental magic and adds a fresh twist to it. I liked the matriarchal nature of this society and how it was written. It wasn't shoved in our faces. It was just there. None of the characters seemed bothered by it. It's the way things were.
The small interludes with the scions were a nice touch.
The humour was on point and Ren's sarcasm was delightful. He strikes me as being a very 'thank you, Captina Obvious' kind of character and I'm here for it.
I'm sad the second book isn't available yet.
July 29, 2022
What begins as an everyday job stealing a book turns into as nightmare for Ren as he is linked to the murder of several noble women. With his life on the line, Ren finds himself in a race against time to discover who is actually behind the horrific murders. But nothing is ever quite that simple and Ren soon finds that his own history is full of secrets and nothing is quite as it seems.
The Blood of Crows is a strong fantasy novel masquerading as a historical mystery. At the heart of it you have Ren, a clever thief but with one major drawback; he doesn't have a knack. Unlike everyone else he knows, he holds no power over the elements, cannot use them to give himself additional speed or strength or use them to throw elements around. He's completely reliant on his own natural skills and training. The nobility who are being found dead though are each strong in their own elements. There's a pattern to the murders. It's just down to whether Ren is quick enough and skilled enough to survive long enough to figure out what it is.
The plot moves quickly, often leaving you with your heart in your mouth as Ren is forced to use all the tricks and tools at his disposal to stay alive. The magic system is one that has been used before, but combined with the mystery and tension of the plot felt different and well drawn. Most of all, the characters are strong, and even one off characters who are murder victims by the end of their scene feel real and fully dimensional. But the characters who you actually spend time with are where this truly shines and I loved the complexities and tensions between them.
So, another five star read. I was drawn in from the start and couldn't put it down until the last page was finished. And whilst the path to the end is littered with bodies, it never felt truly dark. Another author to watch out for!
The Blood of Crows is a strong fantasy novel masquerading as a historical mystery. At the heart of it you have Ren, a clever thief but with one major drawback; he doesn't have a knack. Unlike everyone else he knows, he holds no power over the elements, cannot use them to give himself additional speed or strength or use them to throw elements around. He's completely reliant on his own natural skills and training. The nobility who are being found dead though are each strong in their own elements. There's a pattern to the murders. It's just down to whether Ren is quick enough and skilled enough to survive long enough to figure out what it is.
The plot moves quickly, often leaving you with your heart in your mouth as Ren is forced to use all the tricks and tools at his disposal to stay alive. The magic system is one that has been used before, but combined with the mystery and tension of the plot felt different and well drawn. Most of all, the characters are strong, and even one off characters who are murder victims by the end of their scene feel real and fully dimensional. But the characters who you actually spend time with are where this truly shines and I loved the complexities and tensions between them.
So, another five star read. I was drawn in from the start and couldn't put it down until the last page was finished. And whilst the path to the end is littered with bodies, it never felt truly dark. Another author to watch out for!
October 28, 2022
As a fan of thieves in fantasy, I had high expectations about this book. I guess what I enjoy the most about these stories is the balance between a dark atmosphere and funny scenes and dialogue. I was glad to find this book didn't disappoint.
I enjoyed the worldbuilding but I would have loved for things to be explained more deeply. I'd like to know more about the society, the history and the magic system's limitations.
When I was not reading I wanted to go back to Ren's adventure because I cared about him. I was also fond of the supporting characters and there's much to know about them still. I loved getting to know the victims even if it was for a brief time.
Ren is someone you root for, noble but flawed. He's a little slow in putting two and two together when the answer was right in front of him. I enjoyed following Ren as a protagonist and seeing him fluster in front of a sassy girl.
There's not a dull moment in the story: It's funny, it's exciting, and it's got beautiful mentor relationships. The Blood of Crows has a sweet blossoming romance, elemental magic, lots of parkour and an overarching mystery. Call me a fan of Alex C. Pierce.
I enjoyed the worldbuilding but I would have loved for things to be explained more deeply. I'd like to know more about the society, the history and the magic system's limitations.
When I was not reading I wanted to go back to Ren's adventure because I cared about him. I was also fond of the supporting characters and there's much to know about them still. I loved getting to know the victims even if it was for a brief time.
Ren is someone you root for, noble but flawed. He's a little slow in putting two and two together when the answer was right in front of him. I enjoyed following Ren as a protagonist and seeing him fluster in front of a sassy girl.
There's not a dull moment in the story: It's funny, it's exciting, and it's got beautiful mentor relationships. The Blood of Crows has a sweet blossoming romance, elemental magic, lots of parkour and an overarching mystery. Call me a fan of Alex C. Pierce.
August 16, 2022
A fun, action filled fantasy with interesting characters and world-building that gets meted out over the course of the book as the reader encounters new aspects of the way 'knacks' (magical talent) work. Pierce's writing flows well and is easy to read, and Ren is an easy character to like. He's good at what he does, but has flaws and weaknesses that keep him interesting.
I'm a sucker for heists and this book has multiple, each with their own challenges, solutions, and way things inevitably go wrong. If you're looking for something fun, I highly recommend picking up this book.
I'm a sucker for heists and this book has multiple, each with their own challenges, solutions, and way things inevitably go wrong. If you're looking for something fun, I highly recommend picking up this book.
February 27, 2023
4.5 stars. Another SPFBO book (semi finalist) and on Kindle unlimited! This was a fun and quick read for a fantasy novel. Sometimes just need a break from the epic fantasies…The storytelling was smooth and transitions between POVs seamlessly while still providing exposition. The inserted POV of each murdered victim was riveting yet, informative to the plot. Once the plot starts going, it takes hold and you find yourself wanting to finish to find out who’s the killer… and also expand more on the world and its magic system. Characters are enjoyable and I love the cute banter between Haim and Ren.
Fans of thieves, mysteries, and heists will enjoy this. I was pleasantly surprised at the epilogue and looking forward to the next book.
Fans of thieves, mysteries, and heists will enjoy this. I was pleasantly surprised at the epilogue and looking forward to the next book.
October 25, 2022
An excellent book with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. (Okay, I did at one point, but it could very easily have been missed)
It follows the journey of Ren who sort of stumbles from one accident to the other, but manages to extricate himself from them all either with the help of friends, or his own quick wits. The epilogue left me wanting to read the next book immediately.
An excellent read, and I loved the characters, the world, the atmosphere and the magic system. Recommended for anyone who loves fantasy books.
It follows the journey of Ren who sort of stumbles from one accident to the other, but manages to extricate himself from them all either with the help of friends, or his own quick wits. The epilogue left me wanting to read the next book immediately.
An excellent read, and I loved the characters, the world, the atmosphere and the magic system. Recommended for anyone who loves fantasy books.
June 16, 2023
A wild ride
This was certainly not what I was expecting when I picked up this book. This is one of the best books I've read that has a thief character. Ren was funny, witty, and smart but still made mistakes. The magic system of knocks was really cool and the novel kept me guessing who the killer was up until the very end. I totally wasn't expecting the twist ending. There was some repetitiveness in the middle, but this was still a great story. 4.5
This was certainly not what I was expecting when I picked up this book. This is one of the best books I've read that has a thief character. Ren was funny, witty, and smart but still made mistakes. The magic system of knocks was really cool and the novel kept me guessing who the killer was up until the very end. I totally wasn't expecting the twist ending. There was some repetitiveness in the middle, but this was still a great story. 4.5
May 7, 2024
I loved this book the first time around and just as much the second time! I was excited for the second book(The Blood of Queens) to release so I obviously had to reread! Ren and Molly and Haim are such enjoyable characters and there's mystery of a backstory to all of them. I'm excited to learn more about "The Children" and more about Haim in the next book!
October 20, 2023
This book was amazing! It starts with an incredible heist, morphs into a murder mystery, with a years long history, then follows up with some intriguing questions regarding the royal monarch. It then ends with a cliff hanger that I can't imagine anyone saw coming. To top it off it packs all that and more into half the page count of the new fantasy chonker trend so it's a pretty quick read! I can't wait for the next one!
May 21, 2023
4/5 stars
The epilogue doesn't exist to me.
The epilogue doesn't exist to me.
Read
July 30, 20234.5/5
This is a great debut novel. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and bold plot choices. At times things felt a little unclear but a great book nonetheless. I can't wait for book two.
This is a great debut novel. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and bold plot choices. At times things felt a little unclear but a great book nonetheless. I can't wait for book two.
June 7, 2024
Now to let the next book consume my life. Hot damn!
December 10, 2024
This is labelled as a fantasy heist, but it’s not your typical example. Instead of focusing on the heist itself, here we deal more with the aftermath of a heist gone wrong. There’s a lot of finger pointing here with our thief being accused of various murders and he’s obviously trying to clear his name while staying a free man.
I really enjoyed the book, it had a good setting with some good magic in it. It was a bit of an unusual setting because in this city, basically everyone has access to a sort of elemental magic, but then you have one character (our thief) who does not. He does start to pick up some magical traits as the book progresses however, and I thought that was quite interesting with the way he starts to come to terms with this and come to understand it.
I liked the little twists and turns in here, and I liked the adventure aspect of the story. There were a few little conveniences though that I thought were not integrated into the story as well as they maybe could have been, but that didn’t detract from the story itself because it was very enjoyable and well written, and I was able to speed through it quite nicely.
I really enjoyed the book, it had a good setting with some good magic in it. It was a bit of an unusual setting because in this city, basically everyone has access to a sort of elemental magic, but then you have one character (our thief) who does not. He does start to pick up some magical traits as the book progresses however, and I thought that was quite interesting with the way he starts to come to terms with this and come to understand it.
I liked the little twists and turns in here, and I liked the adventure aspect of the story. There were a few little conveniences though that I thought were not integrated into the story as well as they maybe could have been, but that didn’t detract from the story itself because it was very enjoyable and well written, and I was able to speed through it quite nicely.
November 23, 2025
This is a character study wrapped around a video game with lots of poetic storytelling. Anyone who’s ever played Thief: The Dark Project will immediately feel a sense of homecoming at the beginning of this book as they see Ren the student and Martin the master pull off a high-stakes, extremely challenging heist with traps, tricks, tools, and timing all playing a part.
It somehow gets even better from there. I love a novel with deep characterization and realistic solutions that aren’t always clear even to the characters who are seeking them, but where each person’s choices always make sense in the story. This book delivered on all of those fronts for me.
It also aimed to solve a few interesting mysteries, one of which was resolved neatly, though as in life, there is always more to learn. Another mystery remained open for the next book, and a third was introduced near the end. All of this worked well for me. The systems of magic, and our slowly growing understanding of it, are internally consistent, which can be challenging in any fantasy world, but we are introduced to these as the character knows them. His life is already in progress as we open the book, and his story progresses along with his understanding throughout the story. We follow along at a healthy pace, learning as he does, and even in places discovering how much we *don’t* know. Again, as in life.
I was pleased with the ending to this book, and eager to start the next one.
It somehow gets even better from there. I love a novel with deep characterization and realistic solutions that aren’t always clear even to the characters who are seeking them, but where each person’s choices always make sense in the story. This book delivered on all of those fronts for me.
It also aimed to solve a few interesting mysteries, one of which was resolved neatly, though as in life, there is always more to learn. Another mystery remained open for the next book, and a third was introduced near the end. All of this worked well for me. The systems of magic, and our slowly growing understanding of it, are internally consistent, which can be challenging in any fantasy world, but we are introduced to these as the character knows them. His life is already in progress as we open the book, and his story progresses along with his understanding throughout the story. We follow along at a healthy pace, learning as he does, and even in places discovering how much we *don’t* know. Again, as in life.
I was pleased with the ending to this book, and eager to start the next one.
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