Call of the Crow (Skyborn #2)

By: Jessica Khoury

Narrated by: Michael Gallagher, Emily Eiden

Jessica Khoury brings her masterful world-building and emotional depth to this soaring fantasy series. In a world where everyone is born with wings, stone monsters prowl the skies, hunting those who dare to fly too high.

In the Clandoms, everyone is born with wings, though not all the clans are treated equally. Ellie Meadows longed to become a Goldwing—the knights who protect the people -- but because she came from the humble Sparrow Clan, her dream faced almost insurmountable resistance. Nox Hatcher has it even worse. Nox is a Crow, a shattered clan. They can't own businesses or run organizations, all due to a mistake made hundreds of years ago. Nox has had to steal and scrape just to survive, but a single goal has kept him going, even when it felt like all the Clandoms were against him. Years ago, his mother was imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. Now, finally, Nox is going to save her.

©2022 Jessica Khoury (P)2022 Scholastic Inc

An absolutely FANTASTIC sequel!

OMG! I thought Khoury played with my feelings in book 1. I was wrong. The tension she introduced was mere child's play compared to some of the events in this book. I don't like it, Jessica Khoury! I mean, I do. But I don't.

This book picks up right after the events of Sparrow Rising. Ellie, Nox, Twig, and Gussy are on the run (on the fly?), trying to evade the king, who is still determined to capture Nox. When his Goldwings cannot track down and capture Nox, the king brings in "The Hunter" to do the job.

While Ellie doesn't have a specific plan on what to do next, Nox does. He is going to make good on the promise he made to his mother. He is going to free her from the prison where she's been held for years. But plans aren't foolproof, and a prophecy/vision given to Ellie about Nox has her trying to convince Nox to become more than he is. Will he? Can he?

Though there was danger and violence in Sparrow Rising, it was largely a book of light, of hope. Ellie was trying to become a Goldwing and she wasn't going to let anyone or anything get in the way of that. At the end, though, she learns that everything is not what she thought, and she begins to see the darkness that had been hidden in her kingdom.

Following that realization, Call of the Crow is a much darker book than Sparrow Rising. Indeed, it is darker than many middle-grade novels. Where the individuals who suffered from Wing Rot were simply exiled from their cities in the first book, we see sufferers having their wings cut off in this book. The attacks from the gargols in the first book largely followed rules, and they attacked during rain storms. In this book, those rules are thrown out and attacks begin happening in broad daylight. And the protagonists face setbacks and situations that are not typical of middle-grade novels. That said, it is the darkness of this book that makes it so good. It also, I suspect, is being used to set up the series finale, though I can't really tell you why without getting into major spoiler territory.

Khoury continues with the world-building in Call of the Crow, as we see many new locations; we also get a little more history of the Clans, which raises just as many questions as it answers. We also get to see continued character development, with the relationships among the protagonists growing and changing. For those who don't like how things with Zain were left in Sparrow Rising, we do see him again. We also meet some new characters, some good and some bad, who I am looking forward to learning more about in the next book. I especially liked how Ellie and Nox's relationship grows; the two of them continue to push each other to improve, and that sometimes causes conflict, but it also helps strengthen their friendship. I especially liked how Nox finally called out Ellie for her tendency to railroad people into doing what she wants to do, even while Ellie was trying to get Nox to see that he deserves to be more than a thief.

As for that ending. Oh, man, that ending. Let me just say that I was listening to the audiobook as I did with Sparrow Rising, and this one was again narrated by Emily Eiden (Ellie's POV) and Michael Gallagher (Nox's POV). For most of the audiobook, I was listening while at work, and that worked for most of the book. For the last several chapters, though, it did not. I had to wait until I was back home and could devote ALL of my attention to the story. And there were definitely tears. Khoury was an absolute wizard with that ending, and I cannot wait to read or listen to Phoenix Flight and see what Khoury has in store.

Referringly creative

New wonderful makes me wish I was in the book, fulfillment of every child’s dream to be Abel to fly

Amazing story!

This series is amazing. The author, the narrator, the storyline- everything is AWESOME! Must buy!

One complaint

I loved this story like a ton but I'm annoyed there was no romantic moment between Nox and Ellie, guess I'll have to wait for the next book huh. anyway the hunter make me want to vomit and wow the king is insane also Guusy's betrayal real stung but Nox,Ellie,Twig,and Tauriel did a good job making up for the really disturbing villains.

Awesome-though not entirely sure if it was better than the first….

So yeah, I mean good story, sad too (with Nox’s mom and all) and Ellie figuring out that Nox is a phoenix, but I feel like that part-and the parts where the make the big realizations like the whole reason of wing rot were just too rushed! I guess I kind of understood but still. But I liked it, great story, maybe not AS good as the first; I mean seriously, Gussie betrayed them and they didn’t even fully explain it they were just like “Oh right remember when we heard that Gussie’s sister cousin whatever of going to have a far flight oh yeah that’s bad but whatever right Gussie will survive.”. But I still feel like it was unnecessary and kind of just “Oh yeah let’s have Gussie betray them all because back in her clan her sister is going to get dumped by her clan so that’s a good enough reason.” So yeah: good book, some errors or parts where I’m like WHAT? But it was still good. Jessica is an awesome writer she also wrote the second Rise of Dragons book which is also AWSOME. Looking forward to the next book and hope this was helpful!

Almost perfect book for my kids

This book was fantastic and so great for parents and kids alike. The only reason why I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because I’m suspecting there might be implication to a relationship too mature for my children. I am a bit more conservative, but it was only implied. Other than that this has been a wonderful book series. Can’t wait to read book 3.

Amazing for everyone!

The story is mesmerizing! I tore through both books in a day and can’t wait for the third. I recommend it to anyone that’s in want for a good fantastical read!

Adventurous

Even as an adult I truly enjoyed listening to this book. I’ve listened to the first two in the series and now looking forward to starting the third!

Worth every penny

Ugly cried a lot through this one, but the good kind. This series has some of the most creative and inspiring world building- and oh, gosh, it’s characters... Only two books in and they’re probably some of my favorite characters ever, and I especially love their dynamics towards each other. Definitely lives up to the first book, and even surpasses it, in my opinion. 100% worth the read.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Jessica C.

This was an absolutely AMAZING book!!! I loved it! Recommend it to literally anyone. Except maybe babies and toddlers. But I think almost everyone in the world would enjoy this book not only because of it’s AMAZING plot twists, like Gussie betraying them but also Ellie finding out that Nox is not a crow… he’s a phoenix! Seriously, it’s become my favorite series since the moment I started listening to the first book (Sparrow Rising)! And the next book (Phoenix Flight) I might be able to say is even better! (If that’s even possible)! Like I said, it’s one of my three favorite books, and I will ask anyone who reads this to PLEASE listen to this book!