ARC Review: The Witch and His Crow by Ben Alderson

Hey all, Sam here.

I’m wishing a very happy release month to today’s review, which was released March 4th. So a few months back I participated in a cover reveal for The Witch and His Crow and I was really looking forward to reading it…and then I went into reading slumps and got distracted by other books and working on my own books…..and so I almost forgot about this book until literally the first day of the month.

This led to me dropping the ARC I was reading (sorry Swordheart by T. Kingfisher) and opening up this one so I could get it read and reviewed in time for release day, which is today. And honestly, I’m really pleased with my decision to switch ARC reads last minute (and not because I wasn’t enjoying my then-current read, because I have loved every T. Kingfisher book I’ve picked up).

Oh, I guess this is where I should say that I did receive a digital ARC from the author because of participating in the cover reveal. This did not effect my rating or review in any way…and by the time this post goes live, I’ll own the finished edition anyway, because I was intrigued by the book’s pitch even before I saw the cover, so I would have been adding this to my collection whether or not I got to read it early.

Anyway, let’s go ahead and jump on into the review…

‘Rule them. Win. Become Grand High.’

My name is Hector Briar, and I live for revenge. It’s been eighteen years since Witch Hunters murdered my parents, and still the night haunts me. A part of me died that night, when six-year-old me was forced to listen to their brutal murder. Since then, I’ve gone from prey to predator. I spend my nights stalking Oxford’s streets for those who’d see me slaughtered for being what I am. A witch. And more than that, the son of the last Grand High.

I’ve spent the last years hidden in the shadows, not only from Witch Hunters but also my own kind. But one fateful night lands me directly in the hands of the people I’ve been evading my entire life-the Coven. Whereas the Witch Hunters want to destroy me, the Coven want me for a darker fate. For my blood. It’s the key to starting the Witch Trials – a contest to find the next Grand High, a contest where witches battle to the death, or madness.

Thrown into the middle of the very contest my mother died trying to prevent, I must make allies with my enemies if I wish to survive the first night. Not so bad when my ally so happens to be an attractive blue-eyed, 6ft-something, tattooed from neck to navel, bloodthirsty rival-Arwyn Morgan.

But I soon discover that not is all as it seems. There are dark forces lingering in the shadows and the truth is a hard pill to swallow. The Witch Hunters seek a Champion of their own. Enemies and allies lose all meaning when a wolf invades the flock.

Surviving the Witch Trials quickly becomes the least of my worries when ancient forces reveal their true natures. Something dark stirs within me, waiting for its inevitable freedom. I’m the key to keeping it locked away, or freeing it.

The Witch and his Crow is the first book in a MM paranormal romance new series of heart-pounding romance, witchcraft, and bloodthirsty enemies, perfect for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night and Her Soul to Take

My Thoughts

Rating: 4.5 stars

I’ll admit it: the one other Ben Alderson book I read didn’t grip me the way this one did. I enjoyed the story (I believe I gave it 3 stars), but the characters didn’t really catch my attention and the story felt a bit too predictable and similar to other stories with a similar plot. The writing also felt a little immature (not the characters, let me make that clear. It was one of Alderson’s earlier books and as such the writing wasn’t as rich and developed, and that’s fine).

But this book. Whoa, this book sucked me in very quickly and I was rapidly turning the pages (because yes, I’ll say turning the pages even though I was merely tapping the screen because it was a digital copy). Was some of the plot still a bit predictable? Well, a bit…but I’ve definitely come to expect that considering how many books I read in an average year. When you typically read somewhere between 150-250 books each year, it can get a lot easier to see the twists and reveals coming. It doesn’t make the book bad, at all.

Hector was an interesting character, and it was fun to watch him reluctantly make allies who became friends. And watching the intrigue play out, watching them try to figure out who this Witch Hunter’s Champion was (because I called it in the early chapters, despite the attempts by Alderson to hint at other possibilities) was fun.

I understand the pitch of this being gay “Charmed” meets “The Hunger Games.” With the magic and the Witch Trial challenges, it’s an accurate description. I liked seeing how the story wove together. I do kind of wish that there had been more detail with the magic, but a lot of it was less spellcraft and potions and casting spells, and more each witch is connected to a natural element and has some ability connected to that: things like telekinesis, pyromancy, agility, etc.

All in all, I read this book in like two sittings, and I will definitely be getting a finished physical copy for my shelves….as well as awaiting announcements about more installments in the series. It was a fun read, and makes me curious about checking out even more of Alderson’s books.

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All right, well that is all from me for today. Thank you so much for stopping by, and I’ll be back soon with more geeky content.