Book Review: As the Crow Flies

As the Crow Flies, released in December of 2012, is an excellent, epic read. Lythgoe's world-building excites. Her attention to detail is spot on. This tale is full of magic and mythical creatures sure to intrigue and delight. There is just enough mystery to engage the audience and keep pages turning until the satisfying, heart-clenching end. The action is fast-paced, the characters believable to a wonderful degree.

Crow the thief is arrogant and frankly, sometimes annoying. I didn't like him at first. In fact, I had the urge to slap him several times, but never to put the book down. I was captured by the story and his supporting, well-rounded cohorts (especially Tanris, with whom my sympathies fell in immediately). Once their journey was underway, I was hooked, eager to see how men at such odds, at the opposite ends of the law - and occasionally at one another's throats - could work together to a common end. It happens to be one of my favorite themes in literature and I've seen it butchered miserably and raised up to inspiring levels. Lythgoe inspires me. Not only does she provide us with strong male leads, but in an unassuming Girl our hero meets along the way, she also helps us discover the kind of power that only loyalty and faith can bring.

As for the bad guy, he proves time and again that he is no cheap, mustache-twirling, comic book villain. He is absolutely the wrong man from whom to steal. He is cold and calculating and will go to any lengths--any!--to achieve his goals.

As the Crow Flies serves up action and adventure, wit and wizardry. The cover is stunning and cunningly simple, providing a glimpse of things to come in the tale. I would love to see a sequel, but whatever she writes about, I can't wait for Lythgoe's next book.