River of Crows (The Arcanium #1) by N.P. Thompson

What worked:

The prominence of crows in the story presents conflicting impressions for readers. In general, crows don’t have a positive reputation due to their size, black color, and association with witches and other evil things. Then, this book opens with crows killing a man and attacking his family so negative feelings are reinforced. However, the main character Ty befriends a crow with a streak of white that saves him from bullies near school. It turns out the bird is actually a man named Corwin with the ability to transform into a crow. Just when you start thinking Corwin might be a good character, he reveals that he’s part of the Black Guard that follows orders from the evil emperor.

Magic is common in the world of Arcania and people without talents are looked down upon. Ty and a girl named Ayslenne pass through a portal from Ordane, which literally means “lacking magic”, and Ty finds he has much to learn about this new land. A humorous moment is found when Ty meets a hob (a fey folk) professor who says he’s an expert on Ordane. The hob is so proud of his magnificent collection of Ordane artifacts like Lego pieces, frisbees, and plastic buttons and is fascinated by zippers. Every new character is stunned to learn Ty comes from Ordane since the emperor has made it illegal to build portals between the two worlds. Ty discovers he possesses magic but being untrained can make it unpredictable and dangerous. It’s triggered by strong fear or anger but impulsive emotions make his powers erratic. Readers won’t know what to expect.

The plot is full of adventure as Ty tries to help new friends rescue their families. They don’t know if the family members have been executed, are languishing in prison, or have been transformed into crows in the Black Guard. How can family members be found if they might be crows flying among thousands of other crows? Ty and his friends trek across the country through a vast, dense forest searching for information and guidance. The long trek offers plenty of time for Ty and Ayslenne to bicker and nag which other characters and readers will find quite humorous. The plot reveals secret connections between some of the characters that might explain unexpected behaviors. The emperor is executing anyone showing signs of rebellion so characters are leery of sharing true thoughts with strangers.

What didn’t work as well:

There are instances where the setting jumps to other places or times but they don’t add much to the plot. Knowing what the emperor is thinking and doing is useful information but the other jumps could have been woven into the story. Also, Ty displays bravery and determination that’s not as evident while living in Ordane so his actions in Arcania may initially raise eyebrows. These issues aren’t a big deal and shouldn’t affect reader enjoyment.

The final verdict:

An adventure about a young character discovering new powers isn’t unique but the prominent inclusion of crows makes it feel fresh. Ty’s strong sense of virtue and willingness will connect with readers and the drama and action will keep them engaged. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot!