Looking for your next favourite fantasy novel?
Title: The Merciful Crow
Author: Margaret Owen
Published: August 2019
Pages: 405
Publisher: Blossom Books (I read this book in Dutch, review copy)
Rating: 9/10
First posted in Dutch on September 24 2019 and updated on November 21 2025.
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?
The story begins, like every story, with a sentence. But this opening was different. Scary? Definitely. Did I want to read on? Absolutely. Is this a fantastic fantasy book? No doubt about it. This story is amazing!
While reading The Merciful Crow, I got a bit of a medieval vibe, but of course with a fantasy twist. You follow the story through Fie’s eyes. She comes from the Crow caste (there are twelve castes in total; don’t worry if you can’t remember them all, because there’s a list at the front of the book). Unfortunately, the Crows are the lowest caste and have no birthright. They’re considered useless. Well, not entirely. They’re the only caste that can’t catch the plague.
Crows come when called to a village plagued by the plague to collect the so-called sinners. They murder (if necessary) the people with the plague, take the body outside the village/town, and then burn it.
Crows travel only in groups, and each has a boss. Bosses are Crow witches; they can summon powers through fang magic. At first, I thought: what? Now that I’ve described it I think so again, haha. But it all becomes very clear when you read it in the story.
Fie’s boss makes a deal with two important boys from the kingdom. This turns the lives of the crows and the boys upside down. They embark on a dangerous journey with a future no one can predict.
The story really impressed me. I enjoyed the writing style the most. This is a fantasy that’s incredibly easy to read. Generally, I always spend the first few chapters trying to figure out how everything works, but the author effortlessly provided a clear explanation. I was amazed. That’s why I think this is a good book to read if you’re interested in reading fantasy but haven’t read (or haven’t read) any yet. Don’t worry, it’s also a great read for fantasy lovers!
I haven’t even mentioned the author’s literary metaphors that are so beautiful. Combined with humor and a dose of romance made The Merciful Crow for a wonderful reading experience!
Love,
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