Review- The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

**Disclaimer – I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title The Merciful Crow (The Merciful Crow #1)

Author Margaret Owen

Description from Amazon

One way or another, we always feed the crows. 

A future chieftain 

Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.

A fugitive prince 

When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses―and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns. 

A too-cunning bodyguard

Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?

Initial Thoughts

I was super excited to read this book. I started it the day I got it. I was really bummed that I couldn’t get an ARC at Book Con 2019 but I was glad to get a copy on release day. I actually read this book almost a year ago but never reviewed it.

Some Things I Liked

• World building. I liked the set up and the caste system described in the beginning of the book. I thought it was a super cool concept.
• The romance. I liked the way the romance plot was set up and I also liked that Fie was not described as unbelievably beautiful as female main characters often are.

Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About

• The start. I thought it was incredibly confusing. I wanted more background on the world before the actual story began. I found that I was incredibly confused and am actually still a bit confused.
• The language. There is a lot of slang and different language used and I’m not really loving it.
• Writing style. I am not loving the third person narration. I think this would be easier to follow as first person POV.

Series Value

I will read the next book in the series when it comes out. I’m not dying to read it as this wasn’t my favorite book but I am curious to see where the plot goes.

Final Thoughts

Recommendations for Further Reading

I didn’t love this book. It was just ok for me. I think it had some really good bones but I found the language and world building bogged it down a bit as neither was fully explained.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

• The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen – if you liked this book, give the sequel a try in August 2020.
• The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson – if you liked the bird, and especially crow, themes found here, try this duology by Kalyn Josephson.