According to Crow

According to Crow by E. Sedia is a coming-of-age tale set against the harsh backdrop of war. Josiah, tied to both the land Sium and Mer, is considered an outcast in his village so when some mysterious strangers arrive and offer an excuse to leave and see the world, he takes it. Members of the archives, literally walking libraries of ancient history, are being slaughtered so that some memories can be forgotten forever and land can be conquered without question. Josiah's traveling companions, Crow and his guardian Mireille, are archives members, which he must now see to safety all while learning more about his family and, more importantly, where his true place is.

With her debut novel, Sedia moves through a land rich with culture, history, and people with ease. The two lands of Sium and Mer are represented equally, and for the first half of According to Crow I was as indifferent about which side to believe was in the right as Josiah was. Her prose is simple, yet at times lyrical and quite elegant. One example of a favored passage:

I never wanted to move there, but I wanted to travel, to see it for myself—the long stretches of infertile steppes, the rich river deltas, the blue mountains. If a man cannot wander through the streets of his hometown without attracting stares, he might have to travel to a distant land to finally become invisible. That was all I wanted, really.

Relationships are abound in According to Crow, and often, they flourish from unexpected characters. Josiah is young and clearly unaware of what love is, but through his companions he learns many a things and it is done in a way that's never preachy or cliché. The idea of family and kinship is prominent throughout the story, taking importance over all the little things people nowadays use to further themselves from relatives. It's a refreshing and honest take on lineage.

While the book's title refers to the character of Crow, he is not the focus. Josiah and Caleb, his recently discovered kinsman, take front stage with a couple of ladies right behind them. Later on, Crow becomes important, but it is for reasons of what he is rather than who he is. This is Josiah's story, and his alone.

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. He acts with just reasoning, and for that the readers are allowed to watch the cause and effects take place. 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.

Other Reviews of works by E. Sedia

The Alchemy of Stone - Jun 22, 2008

Interview with E. Sedia

On the Spot with Ekaterina Sedia - Apr 19, 2008