Pellinor Series – The Crow by Alison Croggan

The third book in the Pellinor Series, The Crow by Alison Croggan is told mainly by the perspective of Hem, Maerad’s long-lost brother. Hem was sent there with Saliman to study the ways of the Bard. However, in these times nowhere is safe from the Dark forces seeking to destroy the Light.

Hem and Saliman are in Turbansk when they are attacked by the forces of the Dark, only barely fleeing their capture. This story is an impressive tale of how Hem is able to help the Light and also explains his big part in finding the Treesong as well.

Book Description
“Hem is a weary orphan whose struggle for survival ends when he is reunited with his lost sister, Maerad. But Maerad has a destiny to fulfill, and Hem is sent to the golden city of Turbansk, where he learns the ways of the Bards and befriends a mysterious white crow. When the forces of the Dark threaten, Hem flees with his protector, Saliman, and an orphan girl named Zelika to join the Light’s resistance forces. It is there that Hem has a vision and learns that he, too, has a part to play in Maerad’s quest to solve the Riddle of the Treesong. As THE CROW continues the epic tale begun with THE NAMING and THE RIDDLE, Alison Croggon creates a world of astounding beauty overshadowed by a terrifying darkness, a world where Maerad and Hem must prepare to wage their final battle for the Light.

As this enthralling epic nears its climax, the young heroine’s brother discovers his own hidden gift -- and the role he must play in battling the Dark.” – The Crow


My Thoughts
The Pellinor Series is a fantastic fantasy story which captures all those who read it. The Crow is no exception. At first I was a bit sad that the story was told from Hem, because the first two books were told from Maerad’s point of view. However, after fully reading the book and seeing how much Hem’s character advances throughout this book, I quite enjoyed it.

Another new character in this book is Zelika. She is not a bard, and her family was murdered by the Dark, which ravaged the South before going to Turbansk. While she seemed a bit more annoying, she had reason enough to be. Her friendship with Hem helped them both grow vastly in just a short amount of time.

I highly recommend all those who enjoy this type of fantasy book to read The Crow. I again also advise reading The Naming and The Riddle before The Crow. Reading a series like this in order really helps to understand what is going on throughout the story.


* Thank you to the publisher of The Crow, Candlewick Press for providing me with a copy for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.