In a land of sinners and queens, the Crows live by one law:
protect your own kind, Crow for Crow.
From the first line, The Merciful Crow establishes an unyielding narrative that takes place in a magesterial world. Debut author Margaret Owen's weaves her kingdom with silk threads where her caste system, character developments, and rich details yield a jaw dropping tapestry of dark fantasy.
The main protagonist of The Merciful Crow, Fie, is a part of the caste system known as the Crows. They are deemed as the lowest caste who hold no claim to any birthrights. Often discarded on the social order by the 'higher' castes of the Splendid, Hunting, and Common members, the Crows abide by their internal law of protecting one another. When Fie and her fellow Crows are tasked with bringing back the dead body of the late prince, the three fates begin to spin the thread of destiny.
The Crows discover that Prince Jasimir's 'death' was a rouse to prevent the reign of a merciless queen on the throne of his kingdom. He has his own plans to ascend the throne, but to do so, he needs to enlist the help of the Crows. Sensing the enormity of this opportunity, Fie offers the protection of the Crows.....at a price: upon his ascendence to the throne, he must in turn extend protection to the Crows themselves and break the imposed caste system.
There are so many powerful moments in this book that achieve an unparalleled reading experience. To put it bluntly, this is a book I wish I could reset in my mind and read again for the distinct pleasure of undergoing all the action filled highs and gut-wrenching twists.
The Merciful Crows has shown readers that the Crows hold their own unique magic.... and Margaret Owen has proven that she wields an equally magnetic power.
Favorite Quotes
"Even phoenixes need ash to rise from."
"This was the dance. This was the game. The one she wasn't meant to win."
"Fie remembered the first time she’d held Phoenix fire. She hadn’t wanted to burn the world down; she’d wanted the world to know she could.”
"Look after your own. Crows had one rule. And she had to be a Crow chief."
"You make me believe I can do something better with my life than die."
“When you act in anger, you have already lost your battle.”
Dream Cast
Blu Hunt as Fei. She'd make an incredible Crow!
Quincy Brown as Prince Jasimir. I strongly feel that Quincy can wear Jasimir's like true royalty.
Keegan Allen as Tavin. If there is anyone who can pull off the intensity of Tavin's persona, it's Keegan!
A special thanks to FFBC tours and Henry Holt publishing for organizing this tour for The Merciful Crows by Margaret Owen. As always, all thoughts regarding the book are my own!
About the Book
The Merciful Crow (The Merciful Crow #1)
by Margaret Owen Publisher: Henry Holt (BYR) Release Date: July 30th 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
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?
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About the Author
Born and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, Margaret Owen spent her childhood haunting the halls of Powell’s Books. After earning her degree in Japanese, her love of espresso called her north to Seattle, where she worked in everything from thrift stores to presidential campaigns. The common thread between every job can be summed up as: lessons were learned.
She now spends her days wrestling disgruntled characters onto the page, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. (There is surprisingly little difference between the two.)
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Tour Schedule
For the full tour schedule click on the banner below!
Giveaway
Prize: Win a final copy of The Merciful Crow + a book-themed make-up bag (US/CAN Only)
Starts: July 30th 2019
Ends: August 13th 2019
