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ACCORDING
TO CROW
» Praise and Reviews "With the wisdom of a Biblical tale and an exotic hint of arabesque, ACCORDING TO CROW resides in a rich fantastic milieu, earthy and nostalgic, yet different from our own. No overt banal magic here, only an echo; thus, true wonder. And at the heart, a living journey of a young man torn -- between two conflicting ethnicities, between innocence and maturity, desire and duty, oblivion and memory. This poignant, memorable debut by E. Sedia is a surprisingly complex work that does not shirk from portraying loss and war on a personal level. Above all, it is a human story of choices; of choosing sides, fates, and ultimately choosing self." -- Vera Nazarian, author of DREAMS OF THE COMPASS ROSE "A moving coming of age tale about a young man's struggle to find his own true place in the world. Replete with vivid settings, peopled with memorable characters, rich in thoughtful treatment of themes of love and loss, this graceful fantasy is sure to please discriminating readers. I look forward to more from this promising new author." -- Victoria Strauss, author of THE BURNING LAND (HarperCollins/Eos) "E. Sedia has crafted a world similar to ours, with hints of the fantastic, but also with echoes of earth’s early history in a time when the world was full of wonder. The directness and simplicity with which the story is told is appealing, and the characters are likable and easy to understand. ACCORDING TO CROW is a good choice for a young adult reader, but complex enough to satisfy older readers as well. It will give all readers much to think about and discuss." » Read more -- Lisa Baca of Romance Reviews Today "The real strength of the novel is the development of the sometimes surprising relationships, and the conflicts that such relationships engender." » Read more -- Sean Melican, Ideomancer "Ms Sedia is a new writer with a different slant on fantasy, with a mix of elements intertwined in a captivating way. Racial and tribal intolerance, murder, family values, magic, and love are all tackled with sensitivity." » Read more -- Pam, Love Romances "This is definitely a coming of age novel. There is the quest to meet his family, a quest to find himself. But, Josiah makes decisions and doesn’t flinch from the hard choices. He lives with the decisions he makes and takes responsibility for them." » Read more -- Gayle Surrette, SFRevu "Fascinating stuff, and no magic lightning bolts or enchanted swords to be seen." » Read more -- Michael Jasper "According to Crow is ultimately a haunting tale filled with vivid images and disturbing revelations. With war comes choices, and for Josiah these are the most important ones of his life. <...> Not for the faint of heart, but those seeking a story deep with history and brimming with colorful characters that tear at your heartstrings with their actions, then look no further. It is wholly captivating." » Read more -- Paul Abbamondi, FantasyBookSpot.com » Synopsis Josiah was born soon after the war was over, but its shadow still lies across the land of Sium. Even though the two countries had remained at peace for the past seventeen years, there is little doubt that the Meran Empire will continue its conquest one day. Josiah is too young to remember the war, but he is reminded of it every day; his dark skin betrays his Meran blood. Josiah's mother, Ruth, keeps silent on the subject of Josiah's origin. Josiah’s solitude ends once two members of the archives (the archivist Crow and his guardian Mireille) come into town. The Siumi do not trust their history to paper, and the archives are charged with preserving it in their memories. Josiah learns that there have been several recent killings of the archivists, and the members of the archives are seeking shelter. Josiah meets Caleb, a friend of the archives and a Meran missionary. Caleb becomes interested in Josiah's origin, and finds out something Josiah has suspected for a long time -- his father was a Meran general, Sefar, killed during the war near Josiah's hometown. Caleb informs Josiah that the deceased general was Caleb's distant relative, and invites him to visit the rest of the family in Mer. Mireille and Crow decide to leave Sium as well, fearing prosecution. The four of them travel to Mer, and Josiah discovers a different culture and a different world -- a world of family tradition, honor, and ruthless conquest. With a new war looming on the horizon, Josiah must decide whether he wants to be a conqueror or the conquered. But what does one choose when either alternative is distasteful? How can one take sides without betraying a part of one's heritage? Can a victory be more shameful than a defeat? Of course, every dilemma has a third horn... Read an Excerpt »
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